KTR writes to Centre seeking resolution of issues faced by medical devices industry

Hyderabad: Stressing the need to strengthen the medical devices industry, industries minister K.T. Rama Rao on Tuesday wrote to Union industry minister Piyush Goyal and sought action.

He said that during a roundtable conference at the recent BioAsia 2023, CEOs and association representatives suggested effective measures useful to the medical devices industry.

The key points mentioned by Rao in the letter were GST implications, import substitution and increased self-reliance, inverted duty structures impacting Make in India, inadequate testing and certification infrastructure, availability of raw material and supply chain challenges.

He said that in addition to the custom duty, GST on spare parts of medical equipment was being charged at a higher rate than the equipment itself.

“Medical devices are not luxury items," he said sought a reduction.