Medtech Regulatory Debate Set To Echo At India Health 2026

The medical devices industry's growing unease over the proposed overhaul of India's drugs law is set to echo through the corridors of India Health 2026, as policymakers, manufacturers and healthcare leaders gather in New Delhi this week to debate the future of the country's fast-expanding medtech sector.

The regulatory question comes at a crucial moment. A Bain & Company report released this year estimates that India's medtech sector could represent a USD35-billion opportunity by 2030. Medical-device exports are projected to grow by more than 20% annually to around USD 8 billion by 2030, from about $4 billion in FY25.

The third edition of India Health 2026, scheduled from August 21 to 23 at Bharat Mandapam, is expected to bring the issue into sharper focus alongside discussions on domestic manufacturing, technology adoption, exports, artificial intelligence and healthcare innovation.

For manufacturers, however, the pace of growth will depend not only on investment and innovation but also on the regulatory environment. Industry representatives have raised concerns that placing medical devices and medicines under broadly similar regulatory requirements could increase compliance costs and procedural burdens, particularly for smaller and emerging companies.

More than 300 domestic and international brands and over 8,000 healthcare and medtech professionals are expected at the three-day business-to-business exhibition, organised by Informa Markets in India. A dedicated Medical Manufacturing Zone will showcase developments in medical devices, diagnostics, orthopaedics and allied technologies.

“India's healthcare ecosystem is at a defining inflection point. The country's growing manufacturing capabilities, innovation-led growth and increasing global competitiveness are reshaping how healthcare technologies are developed, produced and delivered. India Health 2026 reflects this transformation by bringing together manufacturers, innovators, healthcare providers and policymakers on a common platform to drive collaboration, accelerate technology adoption and create new business opportunities,” said Yogesh Mudras, Managing Director, Informa Markets in India.

The exhibition is also expected to provide a window into India's evolving technology landscape. Artificial intelligence will be a major theme, with companies showcasing AI-enabled diagnostic, imaging, training and clinical technologies.

Among the products to be demonstrated are DRGEM Healthcare's AI-enabled mobile X-ray system Raymo, AI-based visual health screening technology from FaceEcho.ai, orthopaedic implant solutions from DKS Ortho and KLS Martin's marLase Pro CO₂ laser platform. Hxplain will showcase AI and computer-vision-based tools for workforce training in hand hygiene and operating-room skills.

The presence of international healthcare companies, including the Dubai Health Authority, is expected to add a global dimension to the discussions, reflecting India's growing importance as both a healthcare market and a potential manufacturing base.

Running alongside the exhibition will be the Global MedTech Conference, bringing together industry leaders, regulators and policy stakeholders to deliberate on the opportunities and constraints facing the sector.

The National Medical Devices Policy has envisaged the sector growing to between $100 billion and $300 billion by 2047, potentially accounting for 10-12% of the global market.

The Economic Survey 2025-26 has also highlighted the widening global footprint of Indian medical-device manufacturing, noting that Indian devices were exported to 187 countries in FY2025.

Domestic capabilities are increasingly extending into sophisticated technologies, including MRI and CT scanners, linear accelerators, cardiac stents and ventilators, as per the survey.