India Pharma Outlook Team | Thursday, 22 May 2025
According to Anish Bafna, CEO and Managing Director of Healthium Medtech, sustainability is growing a vital factor in global healthcare finding, especially across the US and Europe. Indian MedTech firms are actively adapting to this shift, incorporating biodegradable materials like PLA-based polymers, minimizing secondary packaging, and transitioning to solar-powered manufacturing.
Modular product designs are also gaining adhesive friction, enabling repair, reuse, and easy disassembly to reduce medical waste. Bafna noted that global buyers are now prioritizing suppliers aligned with circular economy principles, reduced plastic use, and energy-efficient operations. For Indian manufacturers, particularly those focused on single-use medical products, this hinge presents both challenges and avenues for innovation. Some companies have begun piloting take-back initiatives for high-volume disposables in partnership with private hospitals.
Green certifications such as ISO 14001, LEED, and GreenCo are increasingly becoming basics to access international tenders, especially within the European Union. This push toward environmentally responsible manufacturing supports India’s broader ESG objectives and braces its export positioning. Bafna highlighted the importance of industry collaboration with regulators and research institutions to advance sustainable innovation without compromising on quality or safety.
Meanwhile, global healthcare procurement strategies are growing beyond just cost. In high-demand, low-margin product categories like closures, infection control products, and surgical supplies, health systems are favoring long-term contracts, centralized sourcing, and bundled offerings to manage costs and ensure supply continuity.
In India, pricing pressures are further complicated by GST differences that essential implants are taxed at 5 percent, while most surgical consumables attract 12 to 18 percent GST. This disparity constrains pricing flexibility for suppliers, particularly in public tenders. With healthcare inflation expected to touch 13 percent in 2025, hospitals are under increasing pressure to balance cost and care quality.
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Sustainability is no longer a “nice to have” phase, now it’s central to product design, manufacturing, and obtaining MedTech. Bafna pointed out that manufacturers must reconsider portfolios with an eye on standardization, operational efficiency, and integration with digital procurement systems.
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