ANDHRA MEDICAL TECHNICAL ZONE (AMTZ) - SAVING LIVES,
SERVING NATION
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Dr Jitendar
Sharma
MD & CEO, AMTZ |
“Medical Technology has become a
sector that has survived the uncertainties of economic
turbulence as well as showcased its life saving
capacity for social good. AMTZ stands tall today by
virtue of its servitude to the country in protecting
the health of people by supplying affordable,
accessible and good quality products across multiple
states, hospitals in geographies. We remain committed
to deliver independence from import dependency and
make India a proud leader in medical technology
development and production”
- Dr Jitendra Sharma
The Covid-19 pandemic had led to
severe shortages of many essential goods and services.
From N95 masks, diagnostic tests to medical oxygen and
ventilators. The shortage of life-saving equipment and
other essential supplies have flagged serious concerns
about preventing the spread of coronavirus and assist
affected patients.
While the crisis had placed these
unparalleled demands, the pandemic has also provided
means to strengthen the healthcare industry with
opportunities for innovation and cost efficiencies and
there were individuals and organisations that have
responded with resilience, rose to the occasion and
matched the needs and beyond.
To tide over the crisis, the
solution was a rapid escalation of manufacturing. This
rapid escalation was to be made at a time when
prominent economies around the globe had enforced
total lockdown disrupting global production and supply
chain systems. The MedTech zone in Vizag, an
established medical technology manufacturing
ecosystem, had all that it takes to make it happen and
rose to the occasion. The Common Scientific Facilities
(CSFs) & Common Manufacturing Facilities (CMFs) which
include specialized laboratories, warehousing
and testing centres that were pre-existing in the
campus was an added advantage for the mission AMTZ had
committed to.
The key USP of the campus are its
Common Scientific Industrial Laboratories/Centers such
as the Center for Electromagnetic compatibility and
safety testing, Center for Biomaterial Testing, Center
for 3-D printing, Centers for Lasers, MRI coils, Gamma
Irradiation, Moulding and many other industrial
service centers.
When the pandemic outbreak
happened, there were no standard specifications for
the essential products for the fight against the
pandemic, India was majorly dependent on imports for
ventilators, PPE Kits, N-95 Masks and today when the
nation emerged to second-largest PPE manufacturer in
the world and grew self-sufficient in ventilators and
N-95 masks, `the role played by AMTZ was unique and
crucial.
AMTZ contributes by
producing over a million diagnostic kits every day
which is a mammoth capacity. While container hospitals
and mobile diagnostic labs are produced every week,
this single campus can produce over 100 ventilators,
500 oxygen concentrators, 1 lakh N-95 masks, 5000 PPE
kits and 10 lakhs RT PCR kits in just a day. However,
the real strength of AMTZ is not just products for
pandemic but a broader ambit of the healthcare value
chain. For example, AMTZ also makes superconducting
magnets for MRI and multiple other medical care
products. AMTZ aims to produce over 10,000 crores
worth of medical equipment per annum. That's almost
25% of India's
import dependency.
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