Encouraging and Empowering Entrepreneurship in Medical Technology

In accordance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, India acknowledges the right of every individual to a standard of living conducive to health and well-being, including access to necessities like food, shelter, medical care, and social services. Article 21 of the Indian Constitution guarantees the Fundamental Right to Life and Personal Liberty, inherently encompassing the right to health for a life of dignity. Furthermore, India's Directive Principles of State Policy, outlined in Articles 38, 39, 42, 43, and 47, place a clear obligation on the state to ensure the effective realisation of the right to health safe-guarding the welfare of its citizens.

Moreover, the vision outlined in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Target 3.8, underscores the shared commitment of nations to making healthcare accessible and affordable. Yet, achieving this ambitious objective, particularly in a nation as diverse and dynamic as India, poses a significant challenge. The solution lies in leveraging the transformative power of the Medical Technology (MedTech) sector.

Harnessing the Potential of MedTech

As a growing segment of the Indian economy, the MedTech industry holds promise not only for innovation but also for expanding access to quality healthcare. However, it grapples with challenges like fragmentation and heavy reliance on imports, hindering its full potential. While meeting immediate needs, these dependencies risk undermining our long-term goal of a self-reliant healthcare eco-system grounded in principles like availability, accessibility, acceptability, and quality. India's aspiration to emerge as a global leader in medical technology innovation is underscored by initiatives aimed at bolstering indigenous manufacturing, re-search, and development, fostering an environment conducive to innovation.

Yet, as with any transformative journey, challenges abound. The MedTech sector's evolution demands a holistic approach - one that combines the resources and expertise of government, academia, industry, and start-ups. The lack of technical guidance, awareness on evolving regulations, funding opportunities, suitable testing labs, manufacturing partner(s) and sporadic information dissemination are not mere roadblocks; they are rallying points, urging us to recalibrate our strategies and intensify our efforts.

MedTech Mitra: A Collaborative Venture

Despite the myriad challenges in the MedTech sector, India's startup ecosystem boasts of a wealth of innovators and entrepreneurs eager to tap into the vast potential of the sector. In response, ICMR's MedTech Mitra platform aims to support these individuals, positioning itself as the linchpin of India's burgeoning MedTech revolution. This collaborative initiative, led by NITI Aayog, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), and the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), recognises the intricate landscape of challenges and opportunities. More than just a facilitation cell, MedTech Mitra represents a movement dedicated to nurturing, guiding, and amplifying the voices of innovators in the medical technology sector. Through a multifaceted approach encompassing strategic interventions, regulatory guidance, technology evaluations, and comprehensive Health Technology Assessments, MedTech Mitra endeavours to propel India's MedTech revolution forward. Beyond providing mere transactional support, its vision includes fostering partnerships with stakeholders. With support from ICMR's Medical Device & Diagnostic Mission Secretariat (MDMS), along with the Nationwide Clinical Site Network INTENT and knowledge partners, MedTech Mitra aims to address the challenges faced by innovators throughout the product development journey, from ideation to achieving regulatory compliance. MedTech Mitra is headquartered at ICMR, with the ICMR-Medical Device and Diagnostics Mission Secretariat (MDMS) playing a central role as the key facilitator.

Interview

Dr. Rajiv Bahl

DG, ICMR

What is the concept behind MedTech Mitra?

The healthcare landscape in India demands indigenous, efficient and cost-effective solutions. MedTech startups offer exciting opportunities and despite being supported by various government policies and schemes, their very high failure rate was worrisome. MedTech Mitra was envisioned as a highway for the MedTech innovators with personalised handholding at every step, including the pre-clinical and clinical evaluation, regulatory strategy and uptake, jointly by ICMR and CDSCO under the guidance of Niti Aayog with wholehearted support from several knowledge partners.

What are key expectations from the MedTech Mitra initiatives?

MedTech Mitra will empower the startups to ensure a higher success rate and accelerate the development of regulation-compliant Indian MedTech innovations to achieve the goal of self-reliant and affordable healthcare.

How will the common man benefit from this initiative?

The common man will be the greatest beneficiary of the more effective, affordable and accessible healthcare facilities leading to better health outcomes and of the creation of new jobs in the healthcare sector.

Do you think this initiative will be sustainable?

MedTech Mitra was launched on 25th Dec 2023, the 'Good Governance Day'. The overwhelming response of the MedTech innovators with more than 200 applicants in last 4 months and their encouraging feedback of the personalised hand-holding and prompt solutions to their challenges are evidence to the sustainability of the initiative.

Contributed by: Science Media Communication Cell, CSIR-NIScPR, New Delhi.