- AiMed unveils the massive growth rate of the Indian Medical Device Industry during Covid-19
THD NewsDesk, New Delhi: The one name resonating across the walls of the country in the last months has been the Association of Indian Medical device industry. This Association has laboured industriously to combat the pandemic. Rajiv Nath, Forum AiMED was in constant consultation with the Commerce Minister, Piyush Goyal. The Government has rendered full support to the Association in defeating the novel coronavirus.
“COVID-19 crisis has shown that the Indian medical devices sector can rise to the challenge. When imports got disrupted, specific devices detailed with quantified production shortages and a focused Inter-Ministry Group coordinating with domestic manufacturers via AiMeD had addressed production bottlenecks and challenges so that not only capacity got utilized but also ramped up rapidly,” said Rajiv Nath on the 1st of October.
Massive efforts have been made to enhance the medical device manufacturing capacity by AiMeD through its members. Specific measures have been taken to reach out to the garment manufacturers, automakers, auto component manufacturers, and electronic component manufacturers for preparation sake. All precautions were arranged for tackling any unprecedented and unpredictable demands.
AiMeD is the Association of Indian Manufacturers of Medical Devices. It primarily manufactures devices ranging from consumables, disposables, equipment, instruments, electronics, diagnostics, and implants.
With over 350 manufacturers and an additional of over 200 Associate Members, and over 1200 Manufacturers of Medical devices, more than over 2000 products, AiMeD should be around 7000 factories and more significant than Pharma to address the manufacturer’s problems.
In an interview, Rajiv Nath acknowledged that the government interventions under the mentorship of Rajiv Gauba (Cabinet Secretary), and Dr PD Vaghela (DOP Secretary) assisted the Medical devices industry is intensifying the production amidst the pandemic.
AiMed worked with the Government of India (Dept. of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Commerce, NPPA, and CDSCO, etc.) as the facilitator between the Government and various Manufacturers of Medical Devices, e.g. gloves, masks, sanitizers, ventilators, diagnostic and testing kits for COVID-19. This initiative was executed to ramp up capacity and production to battle the fatal virus of COVID-19.
AiMeD claimed that the Indian Government proved to be the only point of contact to access the domestic manufacturers. The manufacturers, in turn, provided them with various services like-
- advocacy on policy
- issues of information services
- regulations for medical devices
- education and training services
- testing assistance
- guidance for quality certification (ISO, CE, ICMED OMS)
- lobbying for funding for R&D from Government
- encouragement of innovations from member units
- improving clinical and patient access to the modern, innovative and reliable medical device technologies through organizing and supporting meetings, seminars, symposia, exhibitions, and demonstration,
- promotion of global harmonization
(All to assist in making India a MedTech superpower and strengthen the Nation’s resources to become the world’s factory for medical devices and a dependable manufacturer of quality products.)
The “Make in India” was actualized by the initiative that relied majorly on the Indian manufacturers to satisfy the surging demand of the essential healthcare equipment for the country. The initiative was aimed at making India self-reliant, especially in the context of the 39 COVID medical devices.
AiMeD has also collaborated with QCI to expedite finalization of ICMED Plus Certification along with the consultant’s consortium to provide online training on Quality Management System Certification to new entrepreneurs. Four batches of 115 representatives have trained seven modules over 11 such sessions in 2 weeks (April and May 2020)
As per a report produced by the Economic Times, “Before the outbreak of COVID-19, only 20 firms were manufacturing 62 lakhs PPE kits per year, but within two-three months, the number of manufacturers listed with AiMeD increased to 140 with 25.55 crores annual capacity.
Similarly, the number of Indian firms manufacturing, ventilator manufacturers went up from 8 to 17, mask manufacturers from 30 to 108, swab manufacturers from zero to five, and sanitizer manufacturers from 35 to 49, and RT PCR Kit manufacturer from 0 to 8.”
The well-established initiative has abled many significant and humble medical devices entrepreneurs to make incredible gains. The pockets of many have prospered. India has risen on the plinth of progress and development. The Nation is professedly on its way to becoming World’s Medical Device Superpower. However, if the “Make in India” initiative has been actualized, why have so many Indian doctors raised inquests over the scarcity of requisite healthcare amenities in fighting COVID, like PPE kits?
As per released data, nearly 200 doctors have succumbed to the virus. Further, India has topped the list of “most-affected” nations with 99733 deaths so far. In the initial phase of COVID-19, the essential amenities like face masks, sanitizers and hand gloves were overpriced and inaccessible for many.
Then, on the way of becoming a Global Medical Devices Superpower, have we forgotten to safeguard our own countrymen?
