The recent directive by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) to restrict the entry of medical representatives (MRs) into government hospitals has prompted the Medical Technology Association of India (MTaI) to request a more thoughtful and differentiated policy, particularly for the medical devices and equipment sector.
Unlike traditional pharmaceuticals, medical technologies are dynamic and increasingly integrated into clinical workflows. Their proper usage requires ongoing training, timely maintenance, and technical support responsibilities typically handled by skilled professionals from the MedTech industry.
These individuals are often not typical sales representatives. Many are engineers, biomedical experts, or trained specialists who work closely with hospital staff to ensure complex, life-saving equipment functions safely and effectively. In government hospitals, which often lack sufficient in-house technical staff, their expertise becomes even more essential.
A blanket ban on MRs may disrupt critical technical support, potentially affecting patient safety and reducing the effectiveness of expensive medical equipment.
These professionals operate under ethical frameworks like the Uniform Code for Medical Device Marketing Practices. Their involvement in healthcare settings is largely focused on clinical assistance and technical support not promotional activities making their presence both purposeful and professional.
India’s MedTech sector also supports over half a million jobs. A broad, undifferentiated restriction could impact both the healthcare system’s efficiency and the livelihoods of many, while discouraging skilled professionals from entering the field.
MTaI has urged the government to adopt a reform-driven, transparent, and consultative approach one that preserves necessary safeguards without weakening the essential human and technical support that modern healthcare systems rely on.
