Medical device firms cry foul as US Sops axed
Hyderabad: The Association of Indian Medical Device Industry (AIMED) has lashed out at the US Medical Device Companies Association for demanding suspension of the benefits offered to India under the Generalised System of Preferences of the US Trade Representative.
Rajiv Nath, the AIMED forum coordinator, says, “The medical device industry in the USA is using these arm-twisting methods because the Government of India has imposed price caps on stents and knee implants.
“While America is propagating its Buy America policy, the price cap is meant to make devices affordable to Indian patients.”
With the US Food and Drug Administration increasing registration charges from 33 per cent to 126 per cent with effect from 2018, it will become very expensive for Indian manufacturers and exporters to register in the USA.
Mr Nath says that USA’s policy has been designed to benefit American companies. “Indian device manufacturers have grabbed 50 per cent of the stent market this year, and their share will continue to grow,” he concludes.