Health Ministry Directives for Medical Equipment Maintenance and Cost Reduction

Health Ministry Directives on Capital Cost Reduction

The Health Ministry has established directives for government-run medical institutions, urging them to minimize capital costs and reduce reliance on single manufacturers of medical equipment. This initiative aims to enhance healthcare delivery within hospitals and medical colleges.

Comprehensive Maintenance Contracts (CMC)

A committee formed by the Health Ministry has proposed new guidelines regarding warranties and CMCs for medical equipment. Currently, the standard is a five-year warranty with an equal maintenance duration. However, the committee recommends that high-end equipment with a life cycle of 10 years or more should have only two years of warranty and eight years of CMC following that. For intermediate equipment valued over 5 lakhs, the recommendation is a similar two years of warranty with CMC for the remaining effective life cycle.

Disadvantages of the Existing System

The previous system of five-year warranties and contracts has shown drawbacks, including increased capital costs and dependency on manufacturers. There are concerns about manufacturers withholding updates during the warranty period, leading to stagnation in technology use.

Benefits of the New Guidelines

The new approach enables hospitals to access advanced technology while minimizing expenses associated with custom duties and equipment procurement. These changes are expected to bring improved patient care and a more competitive landscape for medical equipment supply.

For further details, please refer to the official sources.