ANDHRA MEDICAL TECHNICAL ZONE (AMTZ) - SAVING LIVES, SERVING NATION

“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.