Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology Dr. Jitendra Singh on Friday said that India holds the potential to emerge as a global destination for cost-effective, high-quality healthcare.
Speaking at the Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology (SCTIMST) in Thiruvananthapuram, the Minister inaugurated an exhibition on “Innovation for Self-Reliance – Accelerating Healthcare with Indigenous Medical Device Development – The Sree Chitra Contributions.” He praised the institute for developing affordable, life-saving medical technologies and urged for greater awareness and wider adoption of these innovations.
“Sree Chitra has developed world-class devices such as heart valves, MRI-compatible shunts, and hemostasis patches that have benefitted thousands of patients. Yet, these achievements remain under-recognized even in major hospitals. We must scale up production and showcase these innovations to a wider audience, including at central venues like Delhi,” Singh said.
The Minister highlighted how SCTIMST’s work advances the Prime Minister’s vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat by reducing dependence on imports, Vishwabandhu Bharat by exporting medical devices globally, and Viksit Bharat 2047 through revenue generation and industry collaborations.
He noted that over two lakh patients have already received the institute’s indigenous heart valves, while nearly 2,000 patients have benefitted from advanced shunts. Innovations like the hemostasis patch have proved critical in trauma care and battlefield conditions.
Calling SCTIMST a unique model that integrates the “Four Ts” — Teaching, Training, Treatment, and Trade — Singh said such an approach enables the institute to not only deliver medical education and care but also generate economic value through innovation and manufacturing.
Placing the achievements in the larger context, Singh pointed out that India’s medical technology sector, currently valued at around USD 12 billion and growing at nearly 20% annually, is projected to reach USD 50 billion by 2030. With recognition from the World Health Organization (WHO) and collaborations with leading Indian research agencies including ICMR, DBT, CSIR, DRDO, and INSA, institutions like SCTIMST are well-positioned to drive this growth.
The Minister underscored that affordability must remain central as the sector scales up. “By building on its achievements, Sree Chitra can serve both national health priorities and global demand, reinforcing India’s role as a trusted contributor to world healthcare and medical tourism by 2047,” he said.
The event was attended by Prof. Ashutosh Sharma, Former Secretary, DST; Dr. Abhay Karandikar, Secretary, DST; Prof. Kris Gopalakrishnan, President, SCTIMST; Dr. Sanjay Behari, Director, SCTIMST; along with senior faculty, scientists, and industry partners.
