The Union Budget for 2023-24 is a disappointing one for the Indian medical devices industry as the expectations and assurances given earlier have not been fulfilled, Association of Indian Medical Device Industry (AiMeD) Forum Coordinator Rajiv Nath said on Wednesday.
According to him, the FY24 budget has given a cold shoulder to the domestic medical devices industry.
The only positive announcement was plans for skilling of manpower for manufacturing of medical technologies, he said.
"It is highly disheartening that against industry's expectations and assurance by the various government departments, the government has not announced any measures to help end the 80-85 per cent import dependence forced upon India and an ever-increasing import bill of over Rs 63,200 crore," Nath said.
Though Prime Minister Narendra Modi urges India to become Atmanirbhar in medical devices, the medical devices imports continued to grow at an "alarming" level by 41 per cent in FY22. India imported medical devices worth Rs 63,200 crore in 2021-22, up 41 per cent from Rs 44,708 crore in 2020-21, as per data from the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Nath said.
He said, sadly, the government didn't even implement the recommendations made by the Parliamentary Committee on Health.
"If the government implements even 70 per cent of the recommendations, we could have seen a reversal on the import dependence and growth of the domestic industry," he added.
Tripura successfully resolved decades-old insurgency issues: Guv
The Governor said that the state government has included 27 additional schools under the coverage of Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India during the year 2024-25, and infrastructure development has been a priority.
PM Modi pays tribute to fallen heroes on Republic Day at National War Memorial
Prime Minister Narendra Modi marked the 76th Republic Day by paying homage to India's fallen soldiers at the National War Memorial in New Delhi.
BSF unfurls Tricolour at Attari-Wagah border on 76th Republic Day
On the occasion of the 76th Republic Day, the Border Security Force (BSF) on Sunday held the customary national flag hoisting ceremony at the Attari-Wagah Border in Amritsar, Punjab.
Bio-village 2.0 project to be executed in 5 villages of Tripura’s Khowai district
In a significant step towards sustainable development, the state science and technology minister Animesh Debbarma on Saturday launched bio-village 2.0 project in atleast 5 villages in Tulasikhar R D Block in Khowai district.
Tripura: Congress protests against Bangladesh embankment
Seeking the Union government’s intervention, the opposition Congress on Saturday organised a demonstration along the India-Bangladesh border areas in northern Tripura’s Unakoti district to protest the construction of an embankment by the neighbouring country along the boundary.
TRIPURA: Chief Secretary J K Sinha inaugurates 15th National Voters’ Day
Along with the rest of the nation, Tripura on Saturday celebrated 15th National Voters’ Day. The main function was held here at Agartala Rabindra Satabarshiki Bhavan on Saturday morning.