Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu called upon the medical equipment manufacturers of India to participate in the efforts of state government to set up a hub for medical equipment manufacturing industry. Naidu, who was in Delhi Friday, had a meeting with manufactures in Andhra Pradesh Bhavan.

He said the proposed hub near Vizag, would be of great advantage as it would in the backyard of deep water port on the East coast. In order to strengthen the sector, the Chief Minister said, the government was planning to introduce a policy on medical equipment manufacturing.

Stating that ‘Make in India’ would make India a superpower, the Chief Minister said that the government aims to promote exports coupled with import substitution. The Chief Minister also invited the delegation along with Government of India representatives to visit Andhra Pradesh and select suitable sites. Naidu assured them that state had plans to allot an extent of 300 acres to the proposed hub.
Explaining the importance of medical equipment manufacturing, Nath, convener of Medical Equipment Manufacturers’ Forum informed the Chief Minister that in spite of having a market size of Rs 16,000 crore, India is currently importing 78% of medical equipment. This, he said, is mainly because of lack of talent and infrastructure.

Owing to the high cost factor of equipment manufacturing and trust on Indian products, Nath suggested setting up common facility of device testing lab. “What we do in Andhra Pradesh will not only cater to Indian market but to the entire world,” he added.

Health Minister Kamineni Srinivas, Union health ministry official Jitender Sharma, Advisor Medical & Health, Ravi Capoor, State Health Secretary Poonam Malakondaiah etc were present in the meeting.