In India we have a saying ” Ulta Chor Kotwal Ko Dantey ” The 3 USA MNC Mfrs of Stents are pulling a stunt unfortunately of attempting repeatedly to drive a wedge between India – USA relations for their selfish nefarious gains .               By Rajiv Nath-Forum Co-Ordinatior Aimed
Of these companies who are misusing ADVAMED platform to instigate action against India need to do some soul searching before accusing India .Consider following facts :
1- US Co lobby / influence Indian Govt Buyers to put a mandatory US FDA compliance clause to debar Indian mfrs to access our own market , most Indian Mfrs don’t target US market (with high entry non Tariff Barriers). US and Indian Govt need to investigate such tenders for unethical marketing by US Mfrs which is against US Law .
2- From these 3 US Medtech Co , how many have retained their Head Office in USA and pay taxes there and how many have moved to Ireland as a Tax Haven to avoid paying taxes in USA but still claim they are American and seek American influence to further their business interests? Will USA collect more taxes from these mfrs relocated in Ireland ?
3- US Govt debars Indian Mfrs to bid for any Govt Tender as India is not signatory to TAA – do we have a reciprocal action against US Mfrs though the DIPP PPO (public procurement order) has a Tit for Tat clause .
4- Benchmark US Buy American Policy and GoIs Public Procurement Order , will Americans be ok if GoI has a similar Buy Indian policy that openly discriminates against imports as is done in Buy American Policy ?
5- Benchmark US FDA regulations that act as a severe Non Tariff Barrier against near non existent Indian Regulations for Medical Devices and the fees for Registration. Even EU and Japanese Mfrs are discouraged to export to USA as cost of US FDA approval is prohibitively high .
6 – The imports of Medical Devices from USA to India are on upswing and the claim that GoI’s ” make in India “Policy is negatively impacting US Medical exports is laughable as the medical devices Policy of India is in limbo and stalled from progressing since 2015 for implementation by strong cross lobbying by deep pocketed US MNCs via the platforms of ADVAMED, MTAI , FICCI , CII and AMCHAM whom they sponsor heavily . ”
India’s imports of US Medical Devices in 2017-2018 was 7421 Cr Rs , up from previous year of 7220 Cr Rs and is at a dominant 25% of India s import basket .
US and Indian Govt should investigate claims of misinformation being spread by these 3 US Stent Mfrs who claim the need for affordable access by Indian patients but oppose any price control measures like capping of Trade Margin between CIF , Import Landed Price and MRP to a rational level. We are glad that President Trump has started taking steps to bring manufacturing back to USA and take measures to allow more affordable access to medical products as cost of healthcare in USA is 3 times of U.K. . India needs to take similar measures like USA .