Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has urged pharmaceutical companies to develop the best medical devices for customers around the world.
Speaking at an event of pharmaceutical companies held in New Delhi, he said:
Domestic companies involved in pharmaceutical manufacturing should form technology partnerships. Those companies should promote joint production. In addition, they should invite international innovators and major pharmaceutical companies to come to India.
We must strengthen our country’s pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity to the highest standards and develop it into a major hub for drug production. The Central Government is ready to provide 100 percent funding for the cost of the best equipment used to test medicines. Submit such a request to us. So far, no proposal has been submitted to the government. Likewise, the government will establish highly modern laboratories.
We need to improve the ecosystem of design, copyright, patent laws, and intellectual property rights. Only then will people from countries around the world come to India; India too will emerge as an international hub for innovation and invention. This is because having an environment that provides services at low cost in our country will be advantageous. Technology partners should be brought to India. The buyer-seller relationship should be improved. Joint ventures should be established. Where necessary, we should engage in co-design and co-development. We should study the possibility of creating research and development institutions together with other countries. Insurance companies and health technology companies should create products and infrastructure that make patient care easier. Likewise, insurance companies and health technology companies should create platforms so that medical insurance claims can be received in a timely manner.
Hospitals must adhere to ethical principles. They should not engage in attempts to deceive patients. Because even a small mistake can destroy the goodwill, business, and credibility that India has earned. To attract patients coming from abroad to India, hospitals should establish teams made up of people who speak various languages. By doing so, those coming from overseas for treatment will gain great confidence. Likewise, communication between those patients and the hospital administration will also become easier.
Over the past 7 years, 3.5 million foreign patients have come to India for treatment. Our country should set a target of increasing this to 10 million in a year. Piyush Goyal said that our country has the capacity, capability, excellent doctors, and the right ecosystem to achieve this goal.
