Indian manufacturers of medical devices have called on the central government to stop approvals for importing refurbished and reconditioned medical devices. They say this move threatens India’s healthcare sector and undermines years of local research and manufacturing under the “Make in India” vision. The Association of Indian Manufacturers of Medical Devices (AiMeD) stated, “Despite the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation’s clear ban on the import of refurbished medical equipment, and with the matter currently sub judice before the courts, such approvals risk undermining regulatory integrity and creating an uneven playing field for domestic innovators.” Rajiv Nath, AiMeD coordinator, warned that old, used foreign machines could flood the market, turning India into a dumping ground for medical electronic waste. The group also criticized conflicting government actions. While the Ministry of Environment allowed import of refurbished devices like robotic surgery systems and MRI machines, the CDSCO prohibits it, causing confusion. Srinivasa Reddy, senior VP at SS Innovations, said, “Allowing refurbished medical devices into India at this stage sent the wrong message to manufacturers who had invested years in building world-class technologies domestically.” The Patient Safety and Access Initiative of India Foundation has petitioned the Delhi High Court to ban these imports, pointing out safety risks. Viswanathan Santhanagopalan, MD of Sequoia Healthcare, stressed that government tenders often demand foreign certifications over Indian standards, which hurts local manufacturers. He added that equal import duties on new and refurbished devices make it tough for Indian firms to compete. Experts say refurbished devices carry outdated technology, poor performance, and unreliable parts, risking patient safety. R.S. Kanwar, Director at Allengers Medical Systems Ltd., said, “We must avoid lowering the technological benchmark by depending on obsolete imports.” Instead, he urged focus on modern, efficient, and locally made equipment to improve healthcare and support India’s medical technology growth.