In a strategic move aimed at boosting the medical device sector, especially exports, Association of Indian Medical Device Industry (AIMED) and Indian Medical Association (IMA) recently entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU). The aim behind this move is to promote ‘cure in India’ initiative for driving medical tourism within India and simultaneously promote buy Indian to encourage use of Indian manufactured devices in healthcare sector along with Indian medical expertise.
 
As per the MoU, IMA will play an important role in encouraging the medical fraternity to go one step beyond endorsement of the Indian manufactured medical devices. These products will be approved by IMA based on stringent internationally accepted quality parameters. Under the agreement, IMA and AIMED will establish joint mechanism to promote Indian medical device industry by giving users and consumers access to IMA preferred brands of safe Indian medical device that are affordable under their cure in India initiative.
 
The move is expected to have a huge positive impact on ‘Make in India’ programme while giving a big boost to manufacturing of medical devices within the country. Experts strongly feel that this move will also help in building the confidence of the Indian industry and the country likewise to build brand India.

Rajiv Nath, forum coordinator of AIMED informed “This MoU will give a big push to manufacturing and innovation in Indian medical device industry while promoting Indian healthcare sector as a whole. Most importantly, this initiative will also help reduce country’s huge import dependency in medical device sector while encouraging exports.”
 
Under the joint mechanism, both associations will soon roll out promotional campaigns to achieve the objectives under this MoU.
 
Dr A Marthanda Pillai, the national president of IMA, further added that they are committed in providing cost effective quality health care to the community. While Dr K K Aggarwal, honorary secretary general of IMA added that the association strongly believes that apart from those consumables and devices which are manufactured in India and approved by appropriate authorities, no reimbursement should be given to foreign devices, for boosting the domestic sector in the country.