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Medical devices
have extended the ability of physicians to diagnose and treat
diseases, making great contributions to health and quality of
life and without any doubt, these technologies have changed the
mainstream practice of medicine. These devices include not only
imaging and diagnostic technology but also analytical techniques
using high-resolution chromatography, polymerase chain reaction
(PCR), and monoclonal antibodies, providing physicians with new,
accurate, and rapid information. The trend is to move and
acquire diagnostic information at home, office and at bedside.
On the therapeutic side, devices save lives and improve quality
of life. Dialysis therapy extends lives for end-stage renal
disease patients, orthopedic implants enable patients to walk
again, and minimally invasive technologies allow surgeries that
are safer, with less pain and trauma, requiring significantly
shorter hospital stays. In light of its widespread
applicability, overall medical device market is experiencing
reasonable growth. Currently valued at USD 220 billion, global
market growth will continue to accelerate as demographics and
market drivers increase their pressure for new and innovative
product offerings at affordable pricing. Indian medical device
and supplies market was estimated at USD 2750 million in 2008.
The Medical Devices Industry in India is largely dependent on
imports with limited manufacturing facilities in the country and
the domestic production is restricted to only low technology
products. This has resulted in high cost of treatment, which can
be reduced considerably, if the products are manufactured in the
country.
Gap analysis
and need assessment has showed that lack of clear regulatory
policies, the absence of infrastructure facilities like
certified testing laboratories, scarcity of training centres for
developing skilled manpower and deficiency of focused R & D and
innovation are some of the aspects that are needed to be
properly addressed for the growth of medical device sector in
India.
On the basis of
recommendations of Department of Pharmaceuticals, Government of
India, NIPER-Ahmedabad was chosen to provide infrastructure for
sector specific academic training programmes and provide
facilities for research and development. Department of
Pharmaceuticals, Government of India has also announced the
establishment of National Centre For Medical Devices that can
provide support to the industry by providing industry-oriented
training programmes, provide resources for innovators for
research and development and can be a testing facility for the
industry.
To drive the
growth of the medical sector, Govt. of India and Govt. of
Gujarat has jointly announced Greenfield Medical Devices &
Equipment Park based near Ahmedabad in Gujarat. The Greenfield
Park is proposed to be developed in an integrated manner, which
would comprise of state of the art manufacturing facility and
common facilities like Research and development centre, testing
laboratory, sterilization facility, etc. to compliment the
manufacturing activity with basic infrastructure and utilities.
The development of an exclusive facility with the state-of-art
infrastructure would provide an excellent opportunity for the
manufacturers (both domestic as well as outsiders) to have a
manufacturing base in Gujarat. The expanded capacities would not
only enable them to cater to growing local market (in India) but
also exploit the potential of the region. |
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Prof. Harish Padh obtained his Ph.D. in
Biochemistry from University of Delhi in 1978. He has more than
30 years of academic experience. Since 1999, he is the Director
of B. V. Patel PERD Centre, Ahmedabad, and also from 2007,
Project Director of NIPER - Ahmedabad. He was Assistant Director
in Northwestern University, USA, Associate Professor in
University of Chicago, USA, Research Associate with Temple
University, USA and Professor in M. S. University.
Prof. Padh has
more than 130 research publications in reputed journals. He
organized and attended many scientific symposia / meetings in
India and abroad. He is member in several Editorial Boards,
Societies and IBS Committees of pharma companies. In addition,
Prof. Padh is the Advisor to Government of Gujarat for
pharmaceuticals and biotechnology matters. |
Dr. Harish
Padh
Director
National Centre For Medical Devices & B. V. PATEL PERD CENTRE |
