India Launches ‘i-Passport’ for MedTech Startups

As a practicing physician, I believe meaningful change in healthcare doesn’t just come from new drugs — it comes from smarter systems too. Recently, the Andhra Pradesh MedTech Zone (AMTZ) in Visakhapatnam introduced the “i-Passport”, a streamlined gateway for med-tech and health-tech innovators to access design, prototyping, fabrication and regulatory support under one roof.

Why this matters in the clinic:

• This platform could speed development of devices and diagnostics that address Indian patient-needs — not just imported solutions.

• For me in practice, it means the equipment I use (or will use) may get smarter, more locally suited, and maybe more affordable.

• It also means potential for enhanced collaboration between doctors and innovators: real-world insights can flow to engineers faster.

• But the flip side is: we must ensure standards stay strong—device innovation is exciting, but only valuable if safe, reliable, and backed by evidence.

In short: The i-Passport isn’t just “good for tech industry” — it’s good for patient care. But as physicians, we must stay informed, ask questions about the devices we adopt, and help ensure that innovation serves our patients — not just the market.