Context: The Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare and Chemicals & Fertilizers, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, virtually inaugurated 'MedTech Mitra,' a strategic initiative aimed at empowering MedTech innovators and advancing healthcare solutions.

About:

• The platform, MedTech Mitra, serves as a support system for young talents, guiding them in shaping their research, knowledge, and logic and assisting in obtaining regulatory approvals.
• Aligned with the vision of Viksit Bharat, India aims to transform its health landscape by 2047 through a holistic health approach.
• Given the significant import dependency of India's MedTech sector, reaching up to 80%, the country has witnessed remarkable progress with the implementation of production-linked incentive schemes, investments in medical drug parks, and the introduction of MedTech research policies and incentive schemes.
• This collaborative effort seeks to promote the indigenous development of affordable, high-quality MedTech devices and diagnostics, ultimately reducing the sector's reliance on imports.