India’s Med-Tech Sector Eyes USD250 Billion, But Maintenance Emerges As The Next Challenge: Report

India’s medical device industry could emerge as a USD 250-billion sector by 2047, expanding nearly 18-fold from its current estimated size of USD 14 billion. But as the country seeks to become a global medical technology hub, a less visible challenge could determine whether expensive equipment actually delivers safe and reliable healthcare — how effectively it is serviced and maintained.

A newly released White Paper by industry body FICCI and DUA Consulting estimates that India’s medical device sector could reach USD 30-50 billion within this decade, driven by rising healthcare demand, wider adoption of advanced technologies, government support for domestic manufacturing and the country’s ambition to build a globally competitive med-tech ecosystem.

The report, ‘Service and Maintenance of Medical Equipment in Indian Healthcare – Towards a Safe, Reliable and Sustainable Medical Device Maintenance Ecosystem,’ however, said manufacturing capacity alone will not be enough to sustain this growth. India will also need a robust ecosystem for servicing, calibration, repair and lifecycle management of medical equipment.

Medical devices are now integral to modern healthcare, supporting diagnosis, patient monitoring, emergency response, surgery and advanced treatment. But their value does not end with procurement or installation. Poorly maintained equipment can result in downtime, financial losses and, more importantly, risks to patient safety.

The White Paper calls for equipment maintenance to be viewed as a patient-safety issue rather than merely an engineering or administrative function. Regular servicing can improve reliability, reduce downtime, extend equipment life and ensure healthcare providers derive maximum value from their investments.

The challenge is particularly significant as medical technology becomes increasingly sophisticated and expensive. Hospitals in smaller cities and towns, where specialised technical expertise and service networks may be limited, can face greater difficulty in keeping critical equipment operational.

The report estimates that 30-40% of medical device maintenance in India is carried out by unregulated service providers. Among surveyed tier-2 and tier-3 hospitals, 45% reported using such providers in the previous year.

The absence of a national certification pathway for medical equipment service engineers further compounds the problem. The report points to the lack of a central registry to verify engineers’ credentials and highlights documented instances in which misdiagnosis and intra-operative equipment failures were linked to uncertified servicing and counterfeit components.

As India expands domestic production through initiatives such as the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme and the Strengthening of Medical Devices Industry Scheme, the report argues that supporting infrastructure must grow alongside manufacturing.

The government’s policy push has strengthened domestic manufacturing capabilities and improved India’s competitiveness in the global medical device market. The next phase, however, must focus on creating an ecosystem in which equipment remains safe, functional and clinically effective throughout its intended lifespan, as per the report.

Among its key recommendations is a risk-tiered hybrid maintenance framework aligned with the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) classification of medical devices. Under such a system, maintenance requirements would be proportionate to the risks associated with different categories of equipment.

The report also proposes a national certification architecture for service engineers, stronger technical training and mechanisms to verify professional credentials. It calls for commercial models that encourage compliant servicing and a more rational fiscal framework to make professional maintenance economically viable.

Technology could itself become part of the solution. The White Paper recommends greater use of predictive maintenance, digital monitoring and lifecycle management systems. Instead of waiting for expensive equipment to fail, hospitals could use real-time data and analytics to identify potential problems early, schedule preventive repairs and minimise disruption to clinical services.

The stakes are considerable, said a domestic device manufacturer on the condition of anonymity. “As India invests in modern hospitals and advanced medical technologies, equipment lying idle because of inadequate skilled servicing can undermine both healthcare capacity and capital expenditure."

“For patients, equipment failure can mean delayed diagnosis, postponed procedures or compromised emergency care.”

India’s med-tech ambition, therefore, cannot be measured only by the number of devices it manufactures or exports. The real test will be whether these technologies remain safe, accurate and available when patients need them, he said.

The report was release at the conference organised by the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers, in association with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), on the theme ‘Towards Viksit Bharat: Advancing India as a Global Hub for Quality Medical Devices’.

Addressing the inaugural session, Manoj Joshi, Secretary, Department of Pharmaceuticals, emphasised that the medical devices sector needs to be viewed from both healthcare and industry perspectives. “While healthcare providers focus on access to quality devices irrespective of their origin, domestic manufacturing is critical for generating employment, strengthening industry capabilities, and ensuring supply chain resilience, especially during global disruptions,” he added.

“India must move beyond the import substitution approach and build an export-orientated industry that serves global markets. While the Indian medical devices market is valued at around USD16 billion, the global market exceeds USD600 billion, offering immense opportunities for Indian manufacturers. To realise this potential, it is essential to strengthen domestic component manufacturing, deepen value addition, facilitate seamless cross-border movement of components and products, integrate India into global value chains, and foster stronger partnerships between startups and large industries so that innovations can successfully reach the market,” Joshi added.

Dr Rajeev Singh Raghuvanshi, Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI said that India’s medical devices sector is undergoing a fundamental transformation from an import-driven market to a domestic manufacturing-led ecosystem.

He called for strengthening indigenous capabilities in high-end Class C and Class D medical devices and in vitro diagnostics, while ensuring faster, transparent and predictable regulatory approvals.

At the same time, Tushar Sharma, Chair, FICCI Medical Devices Committee and Managing Director & GM, India & South Asia, Abbott Healthcare, said that beyond technology introduction, the industry has made substantial investments in India through R&D centres, Global Capability Centres, software and engineering hubs, clinical research, manufacturing, service networks and workforce development. These investments, he said, not only strengthen patient care but also contribute to creation of skilled jobs, developing local capabilities and positioning the country as an increasingly important hub for global MedTech operations.

Jyoti Vij, Director General, FICCI, was of the view that the next phase of growth will be defined by India’s ability to foster innovation, strengthen research and development, build resilient supply chains, develop advanced manufacturing capabilities, promote globally harmonised quality standards, leverage digital technologies and expand India’s footprint in international markets.