Hi tech India

India is set to construct its first high-end medical technology park in Tamil Nadu. Trivitron Group of Companies, one of India’s largest medical technology companies recently laid the foundation stone for the construction of their Medical Technology Park (MTP) at the Sipcot Industrial Park in Chennai. The MTP will have collaborations with world-renowned medical technology companies. Trivitron’s MTP (TMTP) is spread over an area of 23 acres and will see an investment of over Rs. 250 crore in the first phase of the project. The company would invest Rs. 170 crore in the project and the remaining Rs. 80 crore will be raised by way of a joint venture with Japan-based Aloka Company Ltd., Biosystems of Spain, and Brandon Medical, a UK based company to manufacture black and white ultrasound systems and colour dopplers, wide range of diagnostics reagents and shadowless high-end operating theatre lights.
According to global statistics, India is 30 years behind in high-end medical equipment. Hence, the introduction of a MTP will surely change the face of the medical technology manufacturing industry in India. The park will develop high quality, cost effective medical technology products suited to the needs of developing countries. This will also enhance the accessibility and affordability of these products to the rural mass. The company will primarily focus on producing medical technology products for emerging markets with particular emphasis on South Asia, Middle East and
African markets.
“Our aim is to position India as an alternate viable
low cost manufacturing hub in the global manufacturing map of medical technology products,” said Dr. GSK Velu, Managing Director, Trivitron Group of Companies. Trivitron will focus on manufacturing of medical equipment in the areas of critical care, cardiac care, imaging and routine laboratory diagnostics. For the initial phase, it will manufacture products with the support of its in-house technology and R&D department which would include products like X-ray machines, C arm, ECG machines, stress test systems and holter monitors, syringe and infusion pumps, haematology reagents, haemodialysis concentrates etc. All products manufactured in the TMTP will be CE and US FDA approved and will be sold in all the emerging markets across the world apart from India.
“Chennai has always been the most sought after destination for top multinational companies in the areas of automobiles, electronics, and software due to its industrial friendly policies. Moreover, the Government of Tamil Nadu has proactively helped us in bringing this project to the state. The MTP proposes to employ over 1,000 people in the coming three years and will create abundant employment opportunities for the people of Tamil Nadu. The products manufactured in MTP will be priced 30 to 50 per cent less than the current MRP,” added Dr. Velu.
Initially, Trivitron will use 15 acres of land for manufacturing its products through technology transfer arrangements and remaining 10 acres will be allotted to its JV companies.
Yoshihiro Yoshikawa, President, Aloka Co. Ltd., said, “The demand for high quality ultrasound equipment is constantly increasing. Domestic manufacturing will help in keeping a check on the rising cost of healthcare in India. Our rudimentary objective is making quality healthcare affordable to the Indian population that has grown to 1.13 billion people.”
Manufacturing the products in India for domestic use
would reduce their prices by 30-40 per cent, he claimed, adding that most of them were presently being imported. He also
said that the operations involving Aloka would start by next January, while those with Biosystems and Brandon would start by March 2009.