The Medical Technology Association of India (MTaI) has called for a balanced and evidence-based approach while reviewing the current list of medical devices eligible for Government Tender Exemption (GTE), emphasising the need to protect patient access to advanced healthcare technologies that are not yet adequately available through domestic manufacturing.

The existing GTE exemption list, comprising 354 medical devices, was notified in 2024 and remains valid until March 2027. According to MTaI, the list was prepared after a detailed consultation process involving key stakeholders from the healthcare and medical technology sectors.

Pavan Choudary, Chairman, Medical Technology Association of India (MTaI), said that the core objective of GTE exemptions has always been to ensure that patients have access to critical medical technologies when equivalent products are not sufficiently manufactured in India.

“Many MTaI members manufacture in India and strongly support the growth of domestic manufacturing. Products that are available locally in adequate quantities and meet required quality standards should be procured domestically. However, where advanced technologies are either not manufactured in India or where domestic capacity is unable to meet clinical requirements, continued GTE exemptions remain essential,” he said.

Highlighting the need for a comprehensive review, Choudary pointed out that some advanced medical technologies, which are currently not manufactured in India, were not included in the 2024 exemption list.

“While the 2024 exercise was largely comprehensive, a few advanced technologies that are not manufactured in India were missed out. We welcome the current review and hope it leads to a complete, evidence-based framework that accurately reflects manufacturing realities and patient needs,” he added.

MTaI has stressed that excluding technologies without considering their availability and clinical importance could create barriers to accessing innovative healthcare solutions. The association warned that patients requiring specialised medical interventions may face challenges if globally available technologies are not accessible due to regulatory or procurement limitations.

The association reiterated that promoting domestic manufacturing and ensuring uninterrupted access to advanced medical devices should go hand in hand. A policy framework based on actual manufacturing capabilities, quality standards, and healthcare requirements, it said, would help strengthen India’s medical technology ecosystem while safeguarding patient care.