MSME Minister Narayan Rane launched a new platform, India Health Dialogue (IHD), on Thursday to strengthen MSMEs in healthcare with advanced manufacturing capabilities and increase exports in order to promote self-reliance and reduce healthcare or medical imports in the country. According to the MSME ministry, IHD is a global "collaborative and stakeholders platform" developed by the India Chamber of Business and Commerce in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research and the Indian Medical Association, and is supported by the ministry "to build a robust ecosystem to revolutionise health and health care sector for the future."

Rane told the audience that the MSME ministry has "identified health as a target sector for import substitution and is partnering with IHD for structured interventions to promote advanced manufacturing capabilities among MSMEs for achieving AtamNirbhar Bharat and export promotion in the health domain."

According to the statement, experts at the platform's launch noted that cutting-edge technologies will dominate India's future, and the Ministry of MSMEs' role in building an advanced manufacturing ecosystem is critical in making India both Atam Nirbhar Bharat and a manufacturing hub in health and healthcare.

"IHD provides a fantastic opportunity for state governments to showcase business and investment opportunities in their respective states," said Nitin Pangotra, President and CEO of the Indian Chamber of Commerce.