The 10th National Convention on Medicine & Law 2025 concluded with discussions on the theme Reuse of single-use devices – Bridging the policy gap. The event brought together regulators, doctors, legal experts, patient advocates and industry stakeholders to examine the use and reuse of single-use medical devices (SUDs) in India.
Participants discussed the widespread but unregulated reuse of SUDs and stated the need for India-specific regulation, scientific validation, data-driven guidelines and legal clarity for healthcare providers who reuse devices to reduce cost burdens for patients.
Speakers addressed the balance between affordability and patient safety. Dr Sanjay Kumar Agarwal said the primary driver for reuse is cost, stating, “The dilemma is to save a patient who cannot afford it by reusing.” He noted that sustainability remains a secondary outcome and cost remains the leading reason for reuse. The discussion highlighted pressure on healthcare providers due to pricing expectations from government, patient demands for low-cost safe care, and market factors from manufacturers.
Legal, ethical and scientific considerations were discussed, including the absence of regulatory frameworks, uncertainty around liability, and the need for standardised informed consent and disclosure processes.
Dr Ravindran from Aravind Eye Hospital presented data indicating that validated reuse does not compromise patient safety and added that reuse reduced biomedical waste, especially during COVID-19 when modified protocols were used.
Speakers compared India’s current status to global approaches. The United States allows regulated reuse through licensed reprocessors, traceability systems and mandatory reporting. The United Kingdom discourages unsafe reuse, while France and China prohibit reuse entirely. It was stated that India currently lacks infrastructure such as testing facilities, monitoring systems and regulatory licensing to replicate the US model immediately.
Key recommendations from the convention included:
- Developing a national reuse policy tailored to India
- Strengthening transparency and consent processes
- Defining safety and validation protocols
- Legal protection for doctors reusing devices under defined standards
- Building national evidence and data
- Ensuring economic benefit reaches patients
The convention concluded that India requires a national approach combining scientific validation, transparency, accountability and safety considerations while acknowledging cost realities in the healthcare system.
The National Convention is organised annually by the Institute of Medicine & Law. The 2025 session was chaired by Justice Ravi Tripathi, former Judge of the Gujarat High Court. The convenor was Dr Barun Nayak, HOD Ophthalmology at Hinduja Hospital, and the session was moderated by Dr Parag Rindani, CEO, Wockhardt Group of Hospitals.