Parliament Question: Import of high end and high value used medical equipment

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS DEPARTMENT OF PHARMACEUTICALS RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 357 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 3rd FEBRUARY, 2026 Import of high end and high value used medical equipment 357 Dr. Dharmasthala Veerendra Heggade: Will the Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers be pleased to state: (a) whether the import of high end and high value used medical equipment other than used critical care medical equipment create a risk to patients safety and is also violation of medical regulatory framework, if so, the details thereof; (b) the reasons for adopting a policy which permit import of refurbished medical devices into the country; and (c) whether Government proposes to recall the said policy looking at risks for patients’ health and safety and if so, the details thereof? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS (SMT ANUPRIYA PATEL) (a) to (c): As per the information provided by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the medical devices are regulated under Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and the Medical Device Rules, 2017 made thereunder. In order to have control over the refurbished medical devices, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has constituted a committee on ‘Policy on regulation of refurbished medical devices’, to examine the scope of refurbished medical devices, methodology to evaluate the safety, performance, and remaining useful life of refurbished medical devices, & suggest guidance for waste disposal of such refurbished devices. ******