The Indian Medical Parliamentarians Forum (IMPF) organized the National Summit on Access to Medical Technologies on September 22. This summit was held at the Meril Academy in Vapi under the theme 'Swasth Bharat Se Saksham Bharat | Reimagining MedTech Access in India.'
In the context of India's rapidly evolving healthcare landscape, where medical technologies play an increasingly significant role in improving diagnosis, treatment, and patient outcomes, IMPF gathered members of parliament, senior government officials, representatives from medical institutions, clinical experts, and industry stakeholders. The goal of the meeting was to discuss strengthening India's medical technology ecosystem and expanding access to quality, advanced, and affordable medical technologies.
Senior representatives from the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Department of Medical Research, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, National Health Authority (NHA), AIIMS Nagpur, and the National Health Systems Resource Centre (NHSRC) participated in the event. One session was dedicated to the topic 'Creating a Sustainable and Globally Competitive Medical Technology Ecosystem,' which examined the necessary conditions to support the development of indigenous medical technologies and enhance their global competitiveness.
Discussions covered aspects such as research and innovation, regulatory and quality frameworks, industry-academia collaboration, domestic manufacturing, supply chain resilience, and clinical requirements. Dr. Shivaji Bandappa Kalge chaired the panel, and Shri Manoj Joshi co-chaired it. Dr. Vibhav Garg from Meril moderated the discussion, with Professor (Dr.) Prashant P. Joshi and Dr. Neha Dumka participating as panelists.
Another panel discussion focused on the theme 'Expanding Access to Quality Care through Medical Technology Innovations,' emphasizing the transformation of medical innovations into tangible access for patients. Clinical evidence, health technology assessment, financing and reimbursement, technology adoption, healthcare workforce capabilities, and the dissemination of advanced technologies across different levels of the healthcare system were discussed. The panel was led by Dr. Jashvansinh Parmar, and Dr. Sharmila Sarkar moderated. Panel participants included Dr. Gaurav Shankar Pradhan, Dr. Shailesh Kumar Yadav, and Dr. Suchita Markan.
Manoj Kumar Joshi, Co-chair and Secretary of the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, emphasized that achieving self-sufficiency for India in medical devices requires a strong ecosystem based on quality, evidence, and reliability. He noted that the regulatory system must evolve to ensure that Indian products meet globally recognized standards, and that internal supply chains, engineering capabilities, and component manufacturing must be strengthened.
Dr. Prashant P. Joshi stated that medical institutions should not limit themselves to vetting technologies developed elsewhere; they must identify unmet clinical needs and work with engineers, researchers, and innovators to create solutions. He stressed that strengthening collaboration between medical and engineering institutions through joint research, academic programs, scholarships, and training can significantly strengthen India's medical technology ecosystem.
Dr. Gaurav Shankar Pradhan noted that access to medical technology is not just about having a device. Significant impact is only possible when healthcare workers can use it safely, confidently, and effectively. There needs to be a shift from a hardware-centric approach to a technology implementation model supported by competency-based training.
Dr. Shailesh Kumar Yadav, IAS, Deputy Director of the National Health Authority, highlighted the importance of financing and reimbursement. He explained that for medical technologies to reach patients, clinical effectiveness must be ensured through appropriate financing and reimbursement pathways. Under Ayushman Bharat, new interventions require robust clinical and economic evidence before being included in health benefit packages, and the total cost of care, not just the initial device cost, must be considered.
Dr. Neha Dumka noted that technology plays a vital role in strengthening primary healthcare. However, innovations must be assessed not only in terms of technical feasibility but also in terms of ease of use, cost-effectiveness, scalability, and sustainability. Technologies must be capable of effective implementation at various levels of healthcare delivery and ultimately reach the needy beneficiaries.
Dr. Jashvansinh Parmar stated that to transition medical technologies from innovation to real patient access, bottlenecks in the existing system must be identified, and the capacity of frontline healthcare workers, especially in Community Health Centers (CHCs) and sub-regional centers, must be enhanced. Technologies must be implemented systematically and evaluated through comparative, data-driven studies.
Dr. Shivaji Kalge noted that Indian companies manufacturing medical devices are becoming increasingly capable of developing technologies that meet international standards while remaining accessible to Indian patients. Continued investment in research, quality, and innovation will help these technologies gain wider global recognition while improving access to quality healthcare.