Kerala to Support New Medical Device Parks, Fast-Track Approvals: CM V.D. Satheesan

The government is also moving towards a “single door, single document, single approval” mechanism for new industrial projects.

Kerala will support the establishment of new medical device parks and enterprises as the State seeks to expand its medical device manufacturing base, Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan said while inaugurating the Kerala Medical Device Industry Association (KMDIA) in Thiruvananthapuram.

The move aligns with the government’s vision to s strengthen its medical device ecosystem. The CM has now outlined measures to expand manufacturing, attract investment and improve the ease of setting up new ventures.

The State government has said it will facilitate new medical device parks across Kerala as the sector gains importance within the State’s knowledge-driven economy.

Kerala’s Medical Device Manufacturing Push

Invest Kerala reports that the State contributes about 15% to India’s medical device industry and has an ecosystem of 85 medical device companies generating more than INR 9,000 Cr in annual revenue.

Medical equipment has also been identified as a priority sector under Kerala’s Industrial Policy 2023.

Satheesan said advances in technologies such as artificial intelligence and nanotechnology were creating new opportunities across diagnosis and treatment, increasing the need for continuous technology and knowledge upgrades.

He said Kerala should build on its existing manufacturing capabilities and develop products that can compete in international markets.

Single-Window Approval System

The government is also moving towards a “single door, single document, single approval” mechanism for new industrial projects.

According to the Chief Minister, amendments are being made to 19 laws to reduce delays and enable approvals within a defined timeframe.

An Investment Promotion Council headed by the Chief Minister, with the Industries Minister as Vice-Chairperson, will monitor investment projects and intervene where bottlenecks arise.

KMDIA Roadmap Targets INR 25,000 Cr Output

The KMDIA Strategic Roadmap 2026-2031, released by Industries Minister P.K. Kunhalikutty, has set a target of increasing Kerala’s medical device manufacturing output from an estimated INR 6,500- INR 7,500 Cr to more than INR 25,000 Cr by 2031.

It also seeks to raise Kerala’s share of India’s medical device production from around 15-18% to more than 25%.

The roadmap identifies active medical electronics, in-vitro diagnostics and orthopaedic implants as areas for expansion. It also proposes a Medical Devices City through a public-private partnership model, with plug-and-play manufacturing facilities, ISO Class 5-8 cleanrooms, accredited quality-control laboratories and shared sterilisation infrastructure.

These facilities are intended to lower the initial infrastructure burden for MSMEs and startups.

Focus on Research & Commercialisation

The roadmap further proposes stronger links between industry and institutions, including SCTIMST, IIT Palakkad, RGCB, and NIT Calicut, with a target of supporting technology transfer and commercialisation of more than 20 clinical patents.

KMDIA has positioned itself as an industry platform connecting manufacturers, startups, research institutions, clinicians, investors and government stakeholders to strengthen Kerala’s MedTech ecosystem.

The State’s proposed expansion therefore combines physical manufacturing infrastructure with faster approvals, research-industry collaboration and greater focus on high-value medical technologies.

The objective is to create conditions for Kerala’s medical device enterprises to scale production and access wider national and global markets.

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