AIMED asks Centre to stockpile COVID critical medical tools to face third wave

Chennai: As the spectre of a potential third wave is expected to hit the nation in a couple of months, the Association of Indian Medical Device Industry (AIMED) has demanded stockpiling of 47 critical Covid related devices to battle the third wave of the pandemic.

The AIMED has also written to the central government listing out the 47 critical items that may be needed when the third wave hits the nation, and also on other issues.

The decision comes after the AIMED amended the productivity linked incentive scheme (PLI) to favour the manufacturing of Covid-19 related items.

Raj Nath, Forum Coordinator of AIMED told IANS that along with the tying up of oxygen supplies, it is necessary to stockpile all other covid critical medical supplies as  60 per cent higher cases are predicted during the third wave of the Covid-19.

According to him, there is an urgent need to create a stockpile of 25-30 per cent of annual national demand and warehouse it in the four geographical zones.

Nath who is also the Managing Director of Hindustan Syringes & Medical Devices observed that the stockpile should be used on yearly basis in National consumption needs by central and state public healthcare procurement and replenished annually.

As regards the PLI scheme, Nath said it is needed for wartime preparation to include 'Dal and Roti' or basic items and include the MSME sector and not for the production of MRI or prestigious fancy medical technologies of large corporations.

"Wars are won by supply chain management," Nath added.

Opposing the custom duty exemption sought by various other industry lobby bodies, AIMED has sought a policy of predictable tariff correction so that components can be made here rather than imported.

AIMED is also opposed to an exemption from Goods and Services Tax (GST), saying it would make the Made in India medical devices lose competitiveness as their prices will go up.

On the other hand, the lobby body demands a reduction in GST from 18 per cent to 12 per cent for 40 medical devices.