AP keen to set up medical equipment manufacturing hub: CM

In a meeting with Medical Equipment Manufacturers’ Forum and Union Health Ministry officials in New Delhi, AP Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu said the State government has decided to set up a hub for medical equipment manufacturing in the State.

Andhra Pradesh has the advantages of a long coastline and deep water ports, locating a manufacturing hub near Vizag will be advantageous, he added. In order to strengthen the sector, the Chief Minister said his government plans to introduce a policy on medical equipment manufacturing. Stating that Make in India will make India a superpower, the Chief Minister said the government aims to promote exports and along with import substitution.

Explaining the importance of medical equipment manufacturing, Nath, convenor of Medical Equipment Manufacturers’ Forum informed the Chief Minister that in spite of having a market size of Rs 16,000 crore, India is currently importing 78% of medical equipment. This, he said, is mainly because of lack of talent and infrastructure. Owing to the high cost factor of equipment manufacturing and trust on Indian products, Nath suggested setting up common facility of device testing lab. “What we do in Andhra Pradesh will not only cater to Indian market but also to the entire world,” he added.

The Chief Minister also invited the delegation along with Government of India representatives to visit Andhra Pradesh and select suitable sites. Health Minister Kamineni Srinivas, Advisor (Communications) Parakala Prabhakar, Union Health Ministry officials, Jitender Sharma, Advisor Medical & Health, Ravi Capoor, Joint Secretary Commerce, Sudhansh Pant, Joint Secretary Pharma, State Health Secretary Poonam Malakondaiah, Special Representative of Government of AP in New Delhi Kambhampati Rammohan Rao were present. (NSS)