1 week ago
India Must Move Beyond Assembly to Become Global Medtech Hub
India makes many medical devices, but it still imports several important parts.
The country wants to become a place that designs and builds medical technology for the whole world.
This means doing more than assembling products made with foreign components.
Indian companies need to develop advanced parts, software and new inventions.
Start-ups, hospitals, universities and larger manufacturers should work more closely together.
New devices also need testing, clinical evidence and approval before they can be sold widely.
Products must meet strong international quality standards so customers can trust them.
India’s growing exports show progress, but the next goal is to create higher-value technologies that other countries want to buy.
India’s medical devices market is worth about $16 billion, compared with a global market exceeding $600 billion.
Government programs such as Make in India, production-linked incentives and medical device parks have encouraged local manufacturing.
The country must develop domestic suppliers for advanced components instead of focusing mainly on device assembly.
Greater investment in research, intellectual property, clinical validation and AI-enabled diagnostics is needed.
Medical device exports rose from about $2.5 billion in 2020–21 to $4.1 billion in 2024–25, but India must export more sophisticated products.
- Who
- Indian medical device manufacturers, start-ups, hospitals, academic institutions and government-supported initiatives.
- What
- India is being urged to move from assembling imported medical devices to developing, manufacturing and exporting high-value medtech products.
- Where
- India, with the aim of serving global markets.
- When
- The article was published on August 24, 2026; it cites export figures for 2020–21 and 2024–25.
- Why
- To reduce dependence on imports, create more domestic technological value and make Indian medical technologies competitive worldwide.
Key facts
- India medical devices market
- About $16 billion
- Global medical devices market
- More than $600 billion
- Medical device exports in 2020–21
- About $2.5 billion
- Medical device exports in 2024–25
- About $4.1 billion
- Current manufacturing challenge
- Many sophisticated devices still contain critical components imported from overseas.
- Priority technologies
- AI-enabled diagnostics, advanced imaging and point-of-care solutions
- Recommended strategy
- Strategic localisation combined with access to global technologies and supply chains










