Osaka University Delegation Visits AIIMS Delhi to Discuss National Medical Device Centre

A delegation from Osaka University, Japan, and JICA visited AIIMS Delhi to discuss a National Centre for Medical Device Development. This is part of ongoing efforts initiated nearly a decade ago to enhance medical research and development between India and Japan, aligning with India's 'Make in India' initiative.

A high-level delegation from Osaka University in Japan, along with officials from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), visited the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi to explore the establishment of a National Centre for Medical Device Development, Validation, and Skill Training at AIIMS, the institute announced in a statement.

The meeting held at the Ramalingaswami Boardroom was chaired by M Srinivas, Director of AIIMS Delhi. The discussions centered on an ambitious project that aligns with India's 'Make in India' initiative for medical devices. According to the AIIMS statement, this visit continues a decade-long collaboration that began with a joint statement by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the late Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Tokyo on September 1, 2014.

Leading the Japanese delegation was Kiyokazu Nakajima, Professor in the Department of Next Generation Endoscopic Intervention at Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine. The visit included site inspections at AIIMS Delhi's Jhajjar campus and built upon previous collaborative efforts. These efforts included onsite training for AIIMS delegations at various research facilities in Japan, gaining insights crucial for the proposed centre's establishment. The project aims to reduce India's over 70% reliance on imported medical devices, providing a platform for innovation and fostering an ecosystem conducive to the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises in the sector. Japan's support will be instrumental in this initiative, AIIMS stated.

(With inputs from agencies.)