India’s medtech sector is clearly full of promise. But what do you see as the biggest opportunities and risks on the horizon?
India’s medtech sector is indeed full of promise, and we see tremendous opportunities on the horizon. Domestic manufacturing is at the forefront, with government initiatives like the PLI scheme creating a strong ecosystem for local production of both consumables and advanced diagnostic equipment. This aligns well with our own long-term “Make in India” vision. The integration of digital health and AI-powered diagnostics represents another major opportunity, enabling early detection, improved accuracy, and affordable access, particularly in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities where FUJIFILM India has already built scale, with over 79,000 imaging systems and strong service support.
While there is immense potential of growth, at the same time, the sector must navigate certain challenges. Regulatory frameworks for AI-based healthcare are still evolving, and clarity on data governance and privacy will be critical to ensuring trust. As digital devices proliferate, cybersecurity and supply chain resilience require sustained focus. We see these not as obstacles but as opportunities for closer collaboration between industry, government, and academia. By strengthening quality standards, enhancing local capabilities, and investing in talent, India can address these challenges and set global benchmarks. For FUJIFILM India, our commitment remains to bring innovative, AI-enabled, and inclusive healthcare solutions that support India’s ambition of becoming a world leader in medtech.
India has a mix of strong homegrown manufacturers and global players like Fujifilm. How can international companies contribute to shaping the ecosystem here without overshadowing local innovation?
International medtech companies have a critical role to play in strengthening India’s healthcare ecosystem, and this can be achieved in ways that empower, rather than overshadow local innovation. The most effective approach lies in partnership, collaborative R&D, technology transfer, and co-development of products tailored to India’s unique needs. At FUJIFILM India, for example, initiatives like the NURA Global Development Centre in Kozhikode demonstrate how international expertise can combine with local talent to build scalable solutions for preventive healthcare. Such collaborations not only accelerate innovation but also build skills and knowledge pipelines that benefit India and global operations alike.
Equally important is supporting the startup ecosystem through funding, mentoring, and incubation, giving young innovators access to advanced technology, regulatory know-how, and global networks. By localising manufacturing and building Global Capability Centres, international players also create jobs, expand domestic supply chains, and elevate India’s export potential. Moreover, sharing best practices in compliance, quality, and sustainability helps Indian innovators compete on global standards.
The key is to ensure partnerships are designed to amplify Indian ingenuity, through joint initiatives, reverse innovation, and alignment with ‘Make in India’ and ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat.’ This way, international companies contribute global scale and expertise while creating an ecosystem where homegrown innovation thrives alongside global excellence, positioning India as a true medtech leader
AI in imaging is already improving speed and accuracy. But beyond efficiency, what kinds of new care models or possibilities can AI open up for India’s healthcare system?
AI in imaging is already enhancing speed and accuracy, but its true potential lies in reshaping care models and expanding access to quality healthcare across India. One of the most promising avenues is large-scale preventive screening. AI-powered tools are enabling population-level detection of diseases like tuberculosis and cancer, even in rural areas where radiologists are scarce. This has the potential to shift India’s healthcare system from reactive treatment to proactive prevention, improving outcomes and reducing long-term costs.
AI is also transforming rural telehealth and remote diagnostics. By integrating imaging with telemedicine platforms, scans can now be interpreted by experts hundreds of miles away, bringing specialist-level care to underserved communities and bridging the urban–rural divide. Beyond access, AI’s predictive capabilities are powering population health management, helping identify high-risk patients earlier and reducing avoidable hospital admissions.
Looking ahead, AI can unlock more personalised treatment by combining imaging with genetic and clinical data, tailoring therapies to each individual’s needs. Privacy-preserving models such as federated learning are further enabling collaboration among hospitals while protecting sensitive patient data. Importantly, these technologies also empower the clinical workforce by automating repetitive tasks, allowing scarce medical expertise to focus on complex cases.
For India, this means AI is not just about efficiency, it is about enabling new, inclusive, and patient-centric care models that bring advanced diagnostics and preventive medicine to every corner of the country, reinforcing the vision of equitable healthcare for all.
Advanced diagnostics often don’t reach rural and underserved areas. In your view, what models of decentralised healthcare can make the biggest difference? Can you share some examples?
Decentralised healthcare models are essential to closing the gap between advanced diagnostics and rural populations, where geography and infrastructure often limit access. Mobile medical units (MMUs) equipped with advanced diagnostic technologies are emerging as a powerful solution. For example, in Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi district, a programme by FUJIFILM India, combines static diagnostic centres with fully equipped mobile van covering nearly 3,950 sq km, bringing critical services such as portable X-rays and on-the-spot clinical chemistry testing directly to communities. This approach enables early detection of diseases like tuberculosis and COPD, helping patients access timely care without long and costly travel.
The model also integrates tele-radiology and tele-consultation, allowing patients in remote locations to benefit from expert radiology readings and doctor consultations virtually, overcoming the shortage of specialists in rural areas. By blending mobile outreach with fixed facilities, it ensures both sustainability and wide reach. If scaled to other remote and difficult terrains, such technology-driven, community-focused initiatives have the potential to transform rural healthcare delivery, making sophisticated diagnostics more inclusive and accessible across India.
FUJIFILM has built a strong presence in tier-2 and tier-3 cities. What lessons from this journey could be applied to other emerging markets that face similar healthcare access challenges?
One of the biggest lessons from FUJIFILM India’s journey in India’s Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities is that access challenges can be overcome with the right blend of technology, service, and partnerships. The company’s success has been anchored in building a robust nationwide service and application support network, ensuring high equipment uptime, rapid repairs, and continuous clinician training. This reliability has been critical in regions where infrastructure and expertise are limited. Another key learning is the importance of partnerships: by working closely with state health departments, private diagnostic chains, and NGOs, FUJIFILM India has been able to decentralise its customer base and expand adoption in underserved regions.
Equally important is tailoring solutions to local needs. CT and MRI systems, portable X-ray units like FDR Xair, and AI-powered platforms have been designed to deliver high clinical accuracy while remaining accessible for smaller hospitals and diagnostic centres. Finally, linking technology with social impact, such as large-scale TB and breast cancer screening programmes, has built trust and reinforced the role of advanced diagnostics in public health. These lessons underscore that emerging markets benefit most when global innovation is paired with local customisation, robust support infrastructure, and community-driven healthcare models.
Over the last three to five years, which areas of FUJIFILM India’s healthcare business have grown the fastest? And how do you see competition shaping up in areas like CT, MRI, and digital radiography?
Over the last three to five years, FUJIFILM India’s healthcare business has delivered strong double-digit growth, with some segments emerging as clear frontrunners. CT and MRI systems have been among the fastest-growing areas, particularly in tertiary hospitals and advanced diagnostic centres, where their clinical accuracy, compact design, and cost efficiency have driven rapid adoption. Endoscopy has also seen remarkable momentum, recording over 30 per cent year-on-year growth for the last three years and establishing India as one of the fastest-growing global markets for Fujifilm’s endoscopy business. In digital radiography, portable X-ray solutions such as the FDR Xair have gained significant traction in both urban and rural healthcare setups, further strengthening Fujifilm’s leadership in the segment.
As competition intensifies in CT, MRI, and radiography, we see it as a positive force that will expand the market, accelerate innovation, and improve access. Fujifilm’s differentiator lies in combining cutting-edge technology with a strong nationwide service network and deep presence in Tier 2 and 3 cities. By focusing on AI-powered solutions, localized support, and partnerships across public and private health systems, we believe we are well positioned not just to maintain leadership, but to expand the role of advanced diagnostics in strengthening India’s healthcare infrastructure
Public health in India is focused heavily on NCDs and infectious diseases. What more can the devices industry do to support those priorities? Where does Fujifilm see its role in that bigger picture?
Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and infectious diseases remain India’s most pressing public health priorities, and the devices industry can play a vital role in addressing both by enabling early detection, improving access, and supporting large-scale screening. Portable diagnostic tools backed with teleradiology, for example, make it possible to conduct mass screenings for tuberculosis, advanced technology for breast cancer, and cardiovascular diseases, even in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities where specialist availability is limited. By focusing on solutions that are accurate, and easy to deploy, the industry can help shift the system from reactive care to proactive, preventive healthcare.
Fujifilm sees its role as being an enabler of this transformation. Through innovations such as the FDR Xair portable X-ray, CAD EYE in endoscopy, and Synapse AI platform in radiology, we are supporting programmes that detect TB, cancers, and other high-burden diseases at scale. Our partnerships with state health departments, NGOs, and diagnostic chains have allowed us to decentralise care delivery and extend advanced diagnostics to underserved populations. Looking ahead, we aim to build further on these models by expanding preventive healthcare initiatives, strengthening AI-enabled solutions, and aligning with national health missions, so that technology not only supports but accelerates India’s journey towards reducing the burden of NCDs and infectious diseases.