India’s push for self-reliance in medical technology, the changing role of hospital procurement and the growing influence of technology in health care formed the core of discussions at THE WEEK India Hospital Procurement Leaders Summit, presented by Helmier, in Delhi. Policymakers, hospital leaders, industry experts and health care professionals came together to discuss the future of India’s health care ecosystem at the recent summit.
At the centre of the discussions was a structural shift taking place within India’s health care system, one that is transforming hospital procurement from a back-office function into a strategic, decision-making role that directly impacts clinical outcomes, technology adoption and hospital finances.
In her inaugural address, Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare and Chemicals and Fertilisers Anupriya Patel said the Covid-19 pandemic exposed India’s heavy dependence on imported medical equipment, underlining the urgent need for a resilient and self-reliant medical devices ecosystem. “During Covid, we realised that we were too dependent on imports. India needs a resilient system and our own indigenous system,” she said, adding that the government is now focused on building an integrated ecosystem for medical device manufacturing in the country.
Patel highlighted the National Medical Devices Policy, which aims to promote innovation-led manufacturing and reduce import dependence. She also highlighted the establishment of medical devices parks in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, which were expected to reduce manufacturing costs, strengthen supply chains and promote domestic production.
Her remarks set the tone for a broader conversation about India’s continued dependence on imports for high-end medical equipment and consumables, and the need to build domestic capability not just in manufacturing, but also in financing, maintenance, training and lifecycle management of medical equipment.
One of the key themes that emerged from the summit was the transformation of procurement into a strategic function within hospitals. Procurement leaders now manage a significant portion of hospital operating expenditure and are increasingly involved in decisions related to medical technology adoption, vendor partnerships and long-term equipment planning.
Delivering the special address at the summit, Union Minister of State (independent charge) for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences.
Dr Jitendra Singh said India was moving from being a passive consumer of global medical technology to an active creator and exporter. He said that not long ago, most medical devices, including stents and implants, were imported and often came at unjustifiable costs, but the country was systematically reducing its dependence on imports through political will and a rapidly evolving innovation ecosystem.
To illustrate the pace of change, Singh cited India’s development of its first indigenous DNA vaccine and Nafithromycin, India’s first homegrown antibiotic developed to address respiratory infections at a time of rising antimicrobial resistance. He also talked about the structural changes in India’s research and manufacturing ecosystem, noting that sectors previously closed to private participation, including space research, nuclear medicine and advanced health sciences, have now been opened up, while foreign direct investment norms have been relaxed to create a more dynamic innovation environment.
Dr N. Venkatesan, director and chief procurement officer of Max Healthcare Group, said India imported about 80 per cent of high-end medical equipment and around 70 per cent of consumables, describing the situation as an import addiction that needed urgent attention.
Dr Sheenu Jhawar, director of Apex Hospitals, said procurement was not just about negotiating prices but also about balancing clinical needs, governance and cost. She emphasised that procurement teams must work closely with doctors because the comfort and familiarity of clinicians using a device was as important as the cost of the device.
Bidesh Chandra Paul, group head (supply chain management), Fortis Group of Hospitals, also highlighted the need for alignment between clinicians and procurement teams, especially as hospital networks expand and procurement decisions become more centralised. He noted that policy measures such as price capping, if implemented carefully, could encourage innovation and support domestic manufacturing.
Yash Kaul, co-founder and CEO of Helmier, highlighted his company’s role in supporting hospitals with access to critical medical equipment and strengthening the medical equipment ecosystem in India. He said hospitals today were under financial pressure but must continue to invest in advanced medical technology, making financing and lifecycle management critical components of health care delivery.
The broader idea, he said, was to ensure that hospitals were able to access the right technology at the right time and use it efficiently, because medical equipment were directly linked to patient outcomes, hospital efficiency and overall health care quality.
The summit also featured a conversation on the role of technology in health care and everyday life between actor and fitness advocate Mandira Bedi and Riyad Mathew, Chief Associate Editor and Director, THE WEEK. Bedi said society’s understanding of machines in health care had evolved significantly over the years. She said wearable devices and health gadgets have made individuals more aware of their health by allowing them to track heart rate, sleep and physical activity, but emphasised that the most important machine people must take care of is their own body.
Bedi also spoke about mental health, noting that therapy and counselling were considered taboo two decades ago but attitudes have changed significantly, especially after the Covid-19 pandemic. She encouraged people to seek professional help if needed, saying mental health is as important as physical health.
Pradeep Mishra of Yashoda Hospitals said procurement and supply chain departments handled a large portion of hospital expenditure and must constantly balance cost pressures with clinical needs. He stressed the importance of training nursing and clinical staff to use medical equipment properly and said long-term partnerships with suppliers are essential for maintaining quality and service support.
Amit Mahajan, group chief procurement and supply chain officer at Sparsh Hospital, summed up the changing nature of the profession by saying that purchasing is transactional but procurement is strategic. With technologies such as CT machines now integrated with AI and software, procurement decisions must increasingly be data-driven. He added that the health care sector needs a balanced mix of global and local technology.