The Impressive TimesThiruvananthapuram, 3 October 2025- Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology, Earth Sciences, and PMO, Dr. Jitendra Singh, has underlined India’s growing strength in the medical technology sector, projecting its value to rise from the current USD 12 billion to USD 50 billion by 2030. He emphasized that India is set to become a global hub for affordable, high-quality healthcare solutions.
Speaking at the inauguration of an exhibition titled “Innovation for Self-Reliance – Accelerating Healthcare with Indigenous Medical Device Development – The Sree Chitra Contributions” at Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology (SCTIMST), Thiruvananthapuram, the Minister praised the institute for producing cost-effective medical devices that save lives while reducing import dependency.
Dr. Singh urged SCTIMST to expand awareness and visibility of its innovations, suggesting that their technologies be showcased in major cities like Delhi to reach a wider audience, including civil society and healthcare stakeholders.
Highlighting the institute’s achievements, he noted:
Over 2 lakh patients have benefited from SCTIMST-developed heart valves.
Around 2,000 patients have been treated with advanced MRI-compatible shunts.
Devices like the Hemostasis Patch have become vital for trauma and battlefield care.
The Minister remarked that these path-breaking innovations often remain under-recognized even within top hospitals and called for a scale-up in production.
He described SCTIMST as a model institution that integrates the “Four Ts” – Teaching, Training, Treatment, and Trade, enabling not just education and patient care but also value creation through indigenous manufacturing.
Dr. Singh also connected the institute’s contributions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision:
Atmanirbhar Bharat – reducing reliance on foreign imports,
Vishwabandhu Bharat – strengthening India’s global partnerships through exports,
Viksit Bharat 2047 – positioning India as a developed nation with healthcare as a key driver.
He stressed that affordability must remain the cornerstone of MedTech growth, even as production and global collaborations expand. With WHO recognition and collaborations with ICMR, DBT, CSIR, DRDO, and INSA, SCTIMST is expected to play a pivotal role in making India a leader in cost-effective healthcare and medical tourism by 2047.
The event was attended by senior officials including Prof. Ashutosh Sharma (Former Secretary, DST), Dr. Abhay Karandikar (Secretary, DST), Prof. Kris Gopalakrishnan (President, SCTIMST), Dr. Sanjay Behari (Director, SCTIMST) along with scientists, faculty, and industry partners.
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