National
India’s First Medical Technology Expo, ‘India MedTech Expo 2023’
⇒ India’s first medical technology expo, ‘India MedTech Expo 2023’ event on Medical Devices sector was held from 17th – 19th August, 2023 at Helipad Exhibition Centre, Gandhinagar, Gujarat with the focus to showcase India’s journey and opportunities in the sector.
Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare and Chemicals & Fertilizers Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya Inaugurated the India’s first medical technology expo, ‘India MedTech Expo 2023’ on 17 August 2023 in Gandhinagar.
Organized by:
The Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers, Government of India organized a large-scale India MedTech Expo 2023.
- ‘India MedTech Expo 2023’ was organized on the sidelines of the G20 Health Ministers’ Meeting.
Theme:
The central theme of ‘INDIA MEDTECH EXPO 2023’ was ‘India: The Next MedTech Global Hub’ Future of Devices, Diagnostics and Digital’.
Participation:
- The Expo had various pavilions, including Future Pavilion, R&D Pavilion, Start-up Pavilion, State Pavilion, Regulators Pavilion and Make in India Showcase.
- More than 400 exhibitors including 150 plus MSMEs, 150+ Domestic and International Manufacturers, Start-ups, Regulatory agencies, State Governments and Central Departments participated in it.
- As many as 7 States – Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat set up pavilions during the expo.
- The expo also had pavilions for Innovations and R&D, wherein more than more than 30 companies showcased new research and innovations. There was a separate pavilion for Start-ups and as many as 75 Start-ups participated.
- Further, 7 regulatory agencies for Medical Devices Sector including Department of Pharmaceuticals, GeM, ICMR, IPC, CDSCO, NPPA and BIS participated in it.
Thematic Conference Sessions:
Thematic Conference Sessions were organized during the 3-day event, with the aim to explore boundless frontiers of knowledge, inspire innovations, and forge connections that transcend boundaries.
Multiple Thematic sessions on MedTech were held on the occasion where participants from the Government, Academia and Industry deliberated on the future trends and challenges associated with the sector. Policymakers and Industry Experts advocated closer collaboration and partnerships between Industry and Academia in MedTech Sector. Industry speakers /Experts also shared their valuable thoughts and feedback during various sessions of the Medtech Expo 2023.
- The session on “Future Trends in R&D for MedTech Sector through Industry –Academia collaboration” highlighted the success stories as well as opportunities for future industry- academia linkage in medtech sector.
- The session ‘Future Trends in Skill development in MedTech Sector’ highlighted various initiatives taken by the Government for bridging the skill gap in the MedTech sector.
- Session on “Future Trends in MedTech for Geriatric & Home-based care” discussed about the opportunities and challenges of MedTech for home-based care, especially for the elderly.
- The session “Make in India for the World- Global Manufacturing Competitiveness” highlighted the initiatives taken by the government like the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme towards strengthening indigenous manufacturing of medical devices and attracting greater investments for “Make in India”.
- The session “Value based procurement (VBP): Ensuring availability of High-end MDs in Tier-II and III cities” highlighted the need to build awareness about the principles of VBP, its importance and relevance in the Indian healthcare ecosystem.
- The session on “Demand Forecasting with Procurement Agencies (Presentation)” saw presentations made by State Procurement Agencies of Government of Gujarat, Government of Tamil Nadu, ESIC and NEIGRIHMS, Shillong.
These sessions were created keeping in mind the aim of achieving Vision 2047, a vision that embodies India’s aspirations for the MedTech sector, not just within India but also as a significant contributor to the global healthcare landscape.
Through the 3-day conference, the event aimed to:
- Bring together professionals, experts, and innovators from various fields to discuss the latest advancements, challenges, and opportunities in the medical device sector.
- Renowned industry leaders and experts will share their insights and experiences, shedding light on the current trends and prospects in the medical device domain.
- Latest regulatory guidelines and compliance requirements to ensure successful product development and market access will be discussed among Industry leaders and Policy makers.
- Thought-provoking discussions with industry experts, regulators, and healthcare practitioners about the challenges and opportunities in medical device development, regulation, and implementation.
‘One District One Product’ Wall at SARAS Ajeevika Store
⇒ One District One Product (ODOP) and Deendayal Antyodaya Yojna – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) joined hands to launch ‘ODOP wall’ on 11 August 2023.
In a significant step towards promoting the indigenous crafts and artisans of India, ODOP program, an initiative under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, launched its collaboration with the Ministry of Rural Development in New Delhi.
Key Points:
- This strategic collaboration was unveiled with the inauguration of the ODOP Wall at SARAS Aajeevika Store. The ODOP Wall at SARAS Aajeevika Store stands as a symbol of the harmonious partnership between these two vital ministries.
- Under this Collaboration- products are being identified from all districts to be promoted for their unique qualities and cultural significance which include various handicrafts, handloom, and agricultural products that have been associated with the identity of their place of origin.
- This collaboration aims to drive consumers towards emporia, boosting sales and increasing the visibility SARAS products even further to promote indigenous crafts and artisans of rural SHGs women.
ODOP program:
The One District One Product (ODOP) program aims at manifesting the vision of the Prime Minister to make the country and its people self-reliant by fostering balanced regional development across all districts of the country.
- The program selects, brands, and promotes one unique product from each district, showcasing the diverse range of products across the country which encompasses various sectors, including handlooms and handicrafts.
SARAS Aajeevika:
SARAS Aajeevika is an initiative by Deendayal Antyodaya (DAY-NRLM), Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India.
- SARAS Aajeevika is a strong supporter of women’s empowerment, with a special focus on uplifting women artisans and Self-Help Groups (SHGs).
- By creating a special marketplace for their well-crafted products, SARAS Aajeevika boosts the skills and talents of these women, helping them become independent entrepreneurs.
Important Day
World Elephant Day 2023
⇒ World elephant day is celebrated every year on 12 August.
World elephant day is celebrated across the globe to reaffirm mankind’s collective pledge in conserving one of the most iconic species in the planet. In India, elephants are regarded as the National Heritage animals and are deeply ingrained in our culture.
Objective:
- World Elephant Day is dedicated to the preservation and protection of the world’s elephants.
- The goal of World Elephant Day is to create awareness on elephant conservation, and to share knowledge and positive solutions for the better protection and management of wild and captive elephants.
- World Elephant Day is being celebrated to bring attention of various stakeholders to support various conservation policies to help elephants. It includes improving enforcement policies to prevent the illegal poaching and trade of ivory, conserving elephant habitats, providing better treatment for captive elephants and reintroducing some captive elephants into sanctuaries.
History:
Initiated by the Elephant Reintroduction Foundation and filmmakers Patricia Sims and Michael Clark in 2011, the first international Elephant Day was celebrated on August 12, 2012.
World elephant day celebrations:
On the occasion of World elephant day, Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and Labour and Employment Shri Bhupender Yadav addressed the gathering in Bhubaneswar. He said that with the largest population of wild Asian elephants, India is the mainstay for long-term conservation of the species.
- He further informed that the Elephant Reserve network in the country increased from 76,508 km2 to 80,777 km2 comprising of 33 Elephant Reserves during the last two years.
Report on the Elephant Corridors of India:
As part of the world elephant day celebrations, the Minister released the report on the Elephant Corridors of India prepared by the Project Elephant.
- The report is an outcome of ground-validation of all the indentified elephant corridors in India in coordination with the State Forest Departments of the elephant range states.
- The report involves nearly two years of concerted efforts. The report comprises of details pertaining to 150 elephant corridors across India with corresponding maps.
- The report is intended to serve as an important reference manual for the elephant corridors of India. The report would help the State Governments in taking appropriate measures to manage and protect these corridors for ensuring unhindered movement of elephants to avoid negative interactions with local people.
» Shri Yadav also released the second version of the Atlas of Elephant Reserves of India, which is intended to provide basic information on all the 33 Elephant Reserves of India.
Gaj Gaurav awards:
The Minister conferred the Gaj Gaurav awards to the awardees for their exemplary contributions in the field of elephant conservation and management.
During the event, the prestigious Gaj Gaurav awards were conferred to the following:
- Alefnagar Joint Forest Management Committee, West Bengal
- (Late) Shri Bishwarrajan Panigrahi, (ex) protection squad in the Dhenkanal range of Odisha for his exemplary services
- Shri Pitambara Gouda, watcher, elephant squad of Rayagada Forest Division in Koraput circle of Odisha
- Shri Deepak Sharma, Forest Guard, Assistant Gaj Yatra Team, Mahasamund Forest Division, Chhattisgarh, and
- Dr Mirza Vaseem, veterinary officer, Bandipur Tiger Reserve, Karnataka
19th Steering Committee Meeting of the Project Elephant:
The 19th Steering Committee Meeting of the Project Elephant under the Chairmanship of Shri Yadav was held after the world elephant day celebrations during which the current issues facing elephant conservation and management were deliberated at length.