The Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers has officially invited applications from eligible entities under the Scheme for Strengthening of Medical Device Industry (SMDI). According to reports from Business Standard and ETHealthworld, this initiative aims to promote domestic manufacturing capabilities while reducing import dependence in the medical devices sector. The scheme is designed to support innovation and increase the depth of value chains within the medical devices industry, forming part of the government's broader efforts to build a self-reliant healthcare manufacturing ecosystem capable of meeting growing domestic demand while reducing reliance on imported technologies.
The government has structured the scheme under two distinct sub-schemes to address different aspects of medical device manufacturing. As reported by Business Standard and ETHealthworld, the Marginal Investment Scheme for Reducing Import Dependence offers one-time capital subsidy of up to ₹10 crore on reimbursement basis for manufacturing key components, raw materials, finished devices, and accessories. Additionally, the Medical Device Clinical Studies Support Scheme (MDCSS) provides financial support of up to ₹5 crore for conducting clinical investigation, clinical performance evaluation, Post Market Follow-up Study, and animal studies to eligible applicants on reimbursement basis. The Medical Device Clinical Studies Support Scheme focuses on strengthening the research and validation process for medical technologies developed in India, with financial assistance of up to ₹5 crore on a reimbursement basis to conduct clinical investigations, clinical performance evaluations, post-market follow-up studies and animal studies.
The Department of Pharmaceuticals has set a deadline of 6:00 PM on July 23, 2026 for submission of proposals under the SMDI scheme. According to the department's announcement, applications must be submitted through the department's online portal to be considered eligible. Eligible applicants are required to submit proposals online through the official portal http://smdi.lsssdc.in on or before July 23, 2026 (6:00 PM). Applicants are encouraged to carefully review the eligibility criteria, application process and operational guidelines available on the Department of Pharmaceuticals' official website at https://pharma-dept.gov.in/schemes before submitting their proposals. This structured timeline ensures a systematic approach to evaluating and selecting applicants for the comprehensive financial support program.
The SMDI scheme is specifically designed to achieve multiple strategic objectives for the medical device sector. According to the government announcement, the initiative aims to promote domestic manufacturing, reduce import dependence, support innovation, and increase the depth of value chains in the medical devices sector. The scheme provides comprehensive financial incentives for both manufacturing capabilities and clinical research activities, creating a holistic approach to strengthening the domestic medical device ecosystem. Stronger local production of medical devices is expected to improve supply security, encourage innovation, create skilled employment opportunities and support the expansion of India's healthcare infrastructure. As the country's healthcare sector continues to grow, initiatives such as SMDI are expected to play an important role in strengthening manufacturing capacity, promoting research and enabling Indian companies to develop globally competitive medical technologies that serve both domestic and international markets.
