₹266.64 Crore PLI Funds Unveiled for Indian Medical Device Sector by JP Nadda

During a written answer in the Lok Sabha on July 24, Minister JP Nadda disclosed that the Centre will release ₹266.64 crore under the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) programme for medical‑device makers for the fiscal year 2024‑25. An additional ₹209.80 crore has been allocated to the Medical Device Park initiative.

According to Nadda, of the park’s funding, ₹177.98 crore has already been expended. The Strengthening Medical Devices Industry (SMDI) scheme has approved projects totalling ₹101.50 crore under the Marginal Investment Scheme‑R&D (MIS‑RID) to curb imports, while the Common Facility for Medical‑Device Clusters (CFMDC) received approval for projects worth ₹88.67 crore, of which ₹20.62 crore has been disbursed so far.

The minister emphasized that the government has launched multiple programmes aimed at fostering indigenous manufacturing of sophisticated, high‑precision medical equipment, with the goal of decreasing import reliance and strengthening domestic production capabilities.

The overall outlay for the Medical Device PLI scheme is ₹3,420 crore, offering incentives across four focus areas: oncology and radiotherapy, radiology and imaging, anesthetic devices, and cardio‑respiratory‑renal care equipment including implants.

Thus far, 27 applications have been cleared, 14 of them belonging to MSMEs. The sanctioned projects have collectively invested ₹1,153.07 crore, leading to the start of in‑country production of MRI and CT scanners, linear accelerators (LINAC), mammography systems, C‑Arm imaging units, ultrasound devices, heart valves and stents.

The Medical Device Park scheme carries a total budget of ₹300 crore, providing up to ₹100 crore per park for common infrastructure such as testing labs, sterilisation units, warehouses, incubation centres and prototyping facilities. Work is in progress at three parks in Noida (U.P.), Ujjain (M.P.) and Kanchipuram (T.N.).