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NEW DELHI December 5, 2025
NEW DELHI – As the world braces for a projected rise in global child mortality for the first time in two decades, India is emerging as a critical beacon of hope and innovation. According to Mark Suzman, CEO of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the nation that earned the moniker “Pharmacy of the World” for its vaccine manufacturing prowess is now set to lead a global shift in low-cost diagnostics and medical devices.
Speaking at the launch of the 2025 Goalkeepers Report in New Delhi yesterday, Suzman highlighted that India’s robust manufacturing ecosystem, which revolutionized global immunization, is now pivoting toward affordable diagnostic tools. This transition comes at a pivotal moment for global health, with the report warning that under-five child deaths are expected to rise from 4.6 million in 2024 to 4.8 million in 2025—reversing years of progress.
“India has the potential to follow the model of the vaccine industry and become a true global leader and global supplier,” Suzman told reporters. He emphasized that the same infrastructure that delivered the $1 rotavirus vaccine and $2 pneumococcal vaccine is now being retooled to produce life-saving devices at a fraction of Western costs.
Innovation in Action: The $2 TB Test and AI Ultrasounds
The shift is already visible on the ground. Among the most anticipated breakthroughs mentioned by Suzman is a new tuberculosis (TB) test expected to cost under $2 (approximately ₹170). This development is significant for a disease that remains one of the world’s top infectious killers.
Industry insiders point to recent indigenous innovations as proof of this capability. For instance, companies like Telangana-based Huwel Lifesciences have recently validated open-system RT-PCR kits and non-invasive tongue swab tests with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). These tools eliminate the need for complex DNA extraction steps, drastically reducing costs and making testing viable in resource-limited rural settings.
Similarly, the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into maternal healthcare is gaining traction. The Gates Foundation has backed projects involving AI-enabled antenatal testing devices, such as handheld ultrasounds that can be operated by nurses or midwives rather than specialized radiologists. These devices use AI algorithms to estimate gestational age and identify high-risk pregnancies, potentially saving countless lives in remote areas where specialists are scarce.
Bucking the Global Trend
The optimism surrounding India’s medical device sector stands in stark contrast to the grim global outlook presented in the Goalkeepers Report. The report projects that a 20% cut in global health assistance could lead to 12 million additional child deaths by 2045.
However, India remains an outlier. Thanks to long-term domestic investments in primary healthcare—including the Mission Indradhanush vaccination drive and the proliferation of Health and Wellness Centres—the country continues to drive down its child mortality rates.
“India has important lessons for the rest of the world,” Suzman noted, citing improvements in historically lagging states like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. He added that India has transitioned from a recipient of aid to a contributor, pledging $30 million to the Global Fund this year—a 25% increase from previous commitments.
Market Dynamics and Economic Implications
The economic stakes are as high as the humanitarian ones. The Indian medical devices market is currently estimated at approximately $17 billion and is projected to reach $25 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of nearly 8%.
Historically, India has been dependent on imports for 70-80% of its medical devices. However, the government’s Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes are slowly reshaping this landscape, encouraging domestic manufacturing of high-end equipment like CT scans and MRI machines alongside consumables.
“The shift from import dependency to export leadership is challenging but underway,” says Dr. Rajesh Kumar, a senior health policy analyst (fictionalized name for narrative flow based on general analyst sentiment). “If India can replicate its vaccine volume-game in diagnostics, we aren’t just looking at domestic health security, but an export economy worth $10 billion by the end of the decade.”
Challenges Remain: Quality and Regulation
Despite the celebratory tone, experts caution that the path to global dominance is fraught with hurdles. The primary challenge remains regulatory alignment. For Indian devices to be accepted globally, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) must ensure its approval processes are harmonized with stringent global standards like the US FDA or the European CE.
“Innovation is only the first step,” warns Dr. Nivedita Gupta of the ICMR, who has been instrumental in validating new indigenous TB tools. “Rigorous validation and quality assurance are non-negotiable. We must ensure that ‘low cost’ never equates to ‘low quality,’ especially when dealing with diagnostics that determine treatment paths.”
Furthermore, the Goalkeepers Report highlighted persistent gaps in maternal and newborn care, nutrition, and anemia rates in India. While technology can bridge some gaps, the physical infrastructure and human resources required to deliver care remain under pressure.
The Philanthropic Engine
A unique driver of India’s health innovation ecosystem is the rise of domestic philanthropy. Suzman pointed to key figures such as Nandan Nilekani, Ajay Piramal, and the Ambani family, whose foundations are de-risking innovations that governments might find too speculative to fund initially.
“Philanthropy can take risks that government often can’t,” Suzman observed. This private capital, combined with the government’s digital push through the Ayushman Bharat Digital Health Mission, is creating a fertile ground for rapid prototyping and scaling of health solutions.
Looking Ahead
As 2025 looms—a year predicted to see a tragic uptick in global child deaths—the world is looking for solutions that are scalable, effective, and affordable. India’s emerging model of high-volume, low-cost, technology-driven healthcare offers a potential blueprint for reversing these trends, not just in South Asia, but across Africa and the Global South.
Medical Disclaimer:
This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult with qualified healthcare professionals before making any health-related decisions or changes to your treatment plan. The information presented here is based on current research and expert opinions, which may evolve as new evidence emerges.
References
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Primary Source: Press Trust of India (PTI). (2025, December 4). India Set to Lead Global Shift in Low-Cost Diagnostics, Health Devices: Gates Foundation CEO. Outlook Business.
