New Delhi: The Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers has recently approved 8 more manufacturers under PLI scheme for promotion of Domestic Manufacturing of Medical Devices. The setting up of these 8 plants will lead to a total committed investment of Rs. 260.40 crore by the companies and employment generation of about 2,599.

The approval is given for MRI Coils, Anesthesia workstation, Anesthesia Unit Gas Scavengers, Anesthesia Kits, Masks —Anesthesia, Anesthesia Unit Vaporizers, Anesthesia Unit Ventilators, Automated external defibrillators (AEDs), Oxygen concentrator, other products Bi- Phasic Defibrillators, Infusion pumps - Syringe and Volumetric, Intensive Care Ventilators, Emergency Ventilators, High Flow Oxygen Devices, Multi-parameter Monitor, Suction Machine, Anesthesia Unit Ventilators, Dialyzer, Oxygen Concentrators, Hip Implants, Knee Implants, other Product Trauma Implant, Heart Valves, Stents and PTCA Balloon Catheter, Stents, PTCA Balloon Catheter, Drug Eluting Stents, and Drug Eluting Balloon.

The Medical Device Sector in India suffers from a considerable cost of manufacturing disability vis-à-vis competing economies, inter alia, on account of lack of adequate infrastructure, domestic supply chain and logistics, high cost of finance, inadequate availability of power, limited design capabilities, low focus on research & development (R&D) and skill development, etc.

With an objective to boost domestic manufacturing, attract large investment in the Medical Device Sector, the Department of Pharmaceuticals had launched a Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Promotion of Domestic Manufacturing of Medical Devices to ensure a level playing field for the domestic manufacturers of medical devices with a total financial outlay of Rs.3,420 cr. for the period 2020-21 to 2027-28.

In the first round, 28 applications were received from 23 applicants under the Scheme. Out of which, 13 applications with committed investment of Rs.798.93 crore by the Companies were approved with expected employment generation of around 3,812 persons.

Since few slots remained unfilled for certain products, applications were invited again with the last date of submission as 31.08.2021. Total 14 applications were received.

In the 9th Meeting of the Empowered Committee held on 25.11.2021, after considering all the applications as per the scheme guidelines, applications of the following applicants have been approved:

Name of the Eligible Product

Target Segment 2 - Radiology & Imaging medical devices (both Ionizing & Non-Ionizing Radiation products) and Nuclear Imaging Devices

M/s. Philips Global Business Services LLP

Target Segment 3 - Anaesthetics& Cardio-Respiratory Medical Devices including Catheters of Cardio Respiratory Category & Renal Care Medical Devices

M/s Allied Medical Limited

Anesthesia workstation, Anesthesia Unit Gas Scavengers, Anesthesia Kits, Masks —Anesthesia, Anesthesia Unit Vaporizers, Anesthesia Unit Ventilators, Automated external defibrillators (AEDs), Oxygen concentrator and other products Bi- Phasic Defibrillators, Infusion pumps - Syringe and Volumetric, Intensive Care Ventilators, Emergency Ventilators, High Flow Oxygen Devices, Multi-parameter Monitor and Suction Machine

M/s. Deck Mount Electronics Limited

Anesthesia Unit Ventilators, Dialyzer and Oxygen Concentrators

M/s Microtek New Technologies Private Limited

Target Segment 4 - AII Implants including Implantable Electronic Devices

M/s Meril Healthcare Private Limited

Hip Implants, Knee Implants and other Product Trauma Implant

M/s Meril Life Sciences Private Limited

Heart Valves, Stents and 'PTCA Balloon Catheter

M/s Envision Scientific Private Limited

Stents', and 'PTCA Balloon Catheter'

M/s. Bio India Interventional Technologies Private Limited

Drug Eluting Stents, and Drug Eluting Balloon

The commercial production is projected to commence from 1st April, 2023 onwards.

With this the total applications approved under both rounds aggregate to 21 applicants with committed investment of Rs 1,059.33 crore and employment generation of about 6,411. The setting of these plants will make the country self-reliant to a large extent in the specified target segments in the Medical Devices Sector.

Read also: 55 manufacturers to benefit under PLI scheme for pharma sector, says Govt

Ruchika joined Medical Dialogue an Desk Editor for the Business Section in 2019. She Covers all the updates in the Pharmaceutical field, Policy, Insurance, Business Healthcare, Medical News, Health News, Pharma News, Healthcare and Investment. She is a graduate from Delhi University. She can be contacted at editorial@medicaldialogues.in Contact no. 011-43720751