How did AMTZ evolve and attain the scale it has?
AMTZ was conceived in 2016 with a simple but transformative idea – to make India self-reliant in medical technology. It became operational in 2018. At that time, nearly 90 per cent of India’s medical devices were imported. We wanted to reverse that equation by creating an ecosystem that integrated R&D, design, manufacturing, testing and training – all in one campus.
We started with 25 units; today, nearly 165 manufacturing companies, including, say, 30 foreign companies, operate within AMTZ, producing a complete range of devices – from surgical masks and syringes to MRI scanners, ventilators and cardiac stents. The zone has also developed India’s only integrated MedTech ecosystem, with shared testing labs, calibration centres, innovation hubs and regulatory support.
During Covid-19, AMTZ was instrumental in producing ventilators, RT-PCR kits and oxygen concentrators at scale. That experience proved that India could not only assemble, but also actually innovate and make complex medical technologies at global standards and at Indian prices.
What is the cumulative investment infused so far by the management, as also the private investors, who have set up their facilities?
The total investment within AMTZ has crossed Rs2,000 crore, combining public infrastructure and private manufacturing units. The government’s role was to provide world-class infrastructure and testing facilities. Private entrepreneurs – both large and emerging – have invested heavily in manufacturing plants and technology development. Many companies are now exporting from here to global markets.
The multiplier effect is substantial: every Rs1 invested in AMTZ infrastructure has attracted Rs4-5 of private capital. Beyond capital, the greater return lies in import substitution and technology transfer, which are long-term assets for the nation. We aim to make India import-neutral in Med Tech by 2031.
AMTZ is now pursuing the ‘Made in India Hospital’ project. What is the basic premise?
The ‘Made in India Hospital’ is a natural extension of the AMTZ vision. The project aims to build 100 multi-speciality hospitals in 100 small towns, each with about 100 beds within two years. Every hospital will use only Made-in-India products, from hospital beds and monitors to MRI scanners and cath labs – all manufactured by companies housed in AMTZ.
The first full-fledged hospitals have now been established in Nagpur, Vizag and Hyderabad. In the near future, AMTZ aims to collaborate with various organisations.
Do you plan to make real estate owners and local doctors the basic stakeholders in the project?
Yes, absolutely. The model is designed to be asset-light and entrepreneur-friendly, with doctors and local investors as key stakeholders. In most cases, real estate enterprises will build the hospital infrastructure and lease it to medical entrepreneurs. Doctors – often well-known specialists in their regions – will come together as operating partners. They will not need to own the land, building or equipment outright; these will be financed through lease and EMI models. This structure ensures that the hospitals can focus on patient care rather than heavy capital expenditure. It also allows doctors to become healthcare entrepreneurs, creating a sustainable model for Tier II and III towns.
Each 100-bed hospital will typically employ about 35-40 doctors and 120 nurses and will have two OTs, a cath lab, a CT scan, an ICU and dialysis facilities. The total cost per unit will be Rs35-40 crore, which is nearly 55 per cent cheaper than a similar hospital built with imported equipment.
Is there any global template of this kind of project? Also, what is the timeline to set up more units?
There is no direct global equivalent to this model. Countries have built hospitals, but not a national network of hospitals using entirely indigenous technology. This is a pioneering Indian concept – healthcare as an engine of manufacturing growth and social equity.
We plan to announce the full 100-hospital programme on 7 April 2026, alongside the inauguration of the first hospital at AMTZ. Within 12-18 months after that, all units will become operational across the country.
The initiative will add 10,000 beds to India’s healthcare capacity and generate over 25,000 direct jobs for doctors, nurses, engineers and technicians.