Thiruvananthapuram: The Keralam government will extend full support to setting up medical device parks and new enterprises as the sector holds immense growth potential, Chief Minister V D Satheesan said on Wednesday.
Inaugurating the Kerala Medical Device Industry Association here, the CM said rapid technological advances in healthcare were opening up major opportunities for the medical device industry.
Technologies ranging from artificial intelligence to nanotechnology were transforming diagnosis and treatment, making continuous upgrades in knowledge and technology crucial for the industry.
Keralam, he said, had already demonstrated its capabilities in medical device manufacturing, with companies meeting international standards operating in the state, according to a statement.
The next step should be to expand this strength into new areas and develop products capable of reaching global markets, he said, adding that the government was prepared to facilitate new ventures and support the establishment of medical device parks across Keralam.
KMDIA’s decision to bring the industry together would also enable companies to collectively pursue new ideas, technologies and opportunities that could be difficult to develop individually, he said.
The government was moving towards a “single door, single document, single approval” system for new industrial projects, with amendments being made to 19 laws, the CM said.
The objective was to end prolonged delays and ensure approvals within a defined timeframe.
An Investment Promotion Council headed by the CM, with the Industries minister as vice-chairman, would monitor investment projects and intervene to clear bottlenecks, he said.
Medical device manufacturing was particularly suited to Keralam’s knowledge-based economy and skilled talent pool, and the state should aim for a substantial increase in both investment and the number of enterprises in the sector, the CM added.
During the event, Industries Minister P K Kunhalikutty released the KMDIA Strategic Roadmap 2026-2031, it said.
The roadmap provides a clear pathway for scaling Keralam’s medical device manufacturing output from the present Rs 6,500-7,500 crore to more than Rs 25,000 crore by 2031.
The plan envisages increasing Keralam’s share of India’s medical device production from around 15-18 per cent to more than 25 per cent, while expanding into high-value areas such as active medical electronics, in-vitro diagnostics and orthopaedic implants.
Kunhalikutty said the government-industry partnership should help Keralam convert its scientific and entrepreneurial capabilities into large-scale manufacturing and investment.
The roadmap proposes closer industry links with major institutions to facilitate technology transfer and the commercialisation of more than 20 clinical patents.
It envisages seeking a specialised NIPER MedTech Centre of Excellence in Keralam, facilitating MSME consortia to access Central production-linked incentives, strengthening procurement opportunities for products made in Keralam and creating an NRK Global MedTech Advisory Council to connect Keralam enterprises with overseas capital, expertise and markets, it said.
KMDIA president Thomas John said the association’s mission was to build an integrated ecosystem in which established manufacturers, MSMEs and startups could grow together.
KMDIA would work as a bridge between industry, government, academia, clinicians and investors, with particular emphasis on shared infrastructure, regulatory mentoring, technology transfer, financing and global market access.
‘Kerala MedTech Horizon’ knowledge sessions formed part of KMDIA’s launch programme. The sessions examined the infrastructure, financing, commercialisation and regulatory requirements necessary to build such an ecosystem, the statement added.
