The 2024 Indo-French Healthcare Conference was held on September 17, 2024, at the Embassy of France in India, organized by Business France India in collaboration with the French Institute in India (IFI) and the Medical Technology Association of India (MTaI). The event was inaugurated by the French Ambassador to India, H.E. Thierry Mathou, with Dr. Vinod K. Paul, a member of NITI Aayog, serving as the chief guest.
Dr. Paul emphasized the significance of the Indo-French partnership in healthcare and explored potential collaborative avenues. Approximately 85 attendees participated, with support from the Indo-French Chamber of Commerce & Industry (IFCCI), CEFIPRA, Invest India, the French Healthcare Association, and APHP.
The conference aimed to unite healthcare professionals, medical experts, and industry leaders from both countries to enhance cooperation between their healthcare sectors. While France is renowned for its high-quality medical care and universal coverage, India is rapidly expanding its healthcare infrastructure with significant investments. Discussions covered innovative technologies, medical research and development, and opportunities within India’s growing healthcare landscape.
Ambassador Thierry Mathou expressed, “I am pleased to reaffirm France’s commitment to strengthening our long-standing healthcare collaboration, especially since COVID. France remains a global leader in healthcare, known for its advanced research, exceptional training for healthcare professionals, and a vibrant medical ecosystem that complements India’s dynamic healthcare environment.”
Topics discussed at the conference included emerging healthcare opportunities in India, new areas for joint research and development, innovations in pharma and biotech, and how global MedTech companies are driving healthcare innovation and skill development in India.
Pavan Choudary, Chairman of MTaI, noted, “France has a rich history of MedTech inventions, and India excels in providing healthcare today. This conference effectively brought together French MedTech and R&D organizations with leading Indian hospitals to explore market opportunities, innovation, and skills development.”
He added, “The dialogue was impactful, with Dr. Paul sharing his vision for Indo-French collaboration on health and frontier technologies like AI, while Ambassador Mathou committed to facilitating a joint platform for innovation.”
Participating companies aiming to enter the Indian market included 2PS, a leader in plasma coating for medical implants; Inlog S.A.S, a key player in Laboratory Management Systems; Dagard, specialists in cleanroom solutions; and F2D Medical, an innovative startup focused on non-invasive medical devices for continuous core body temperature monitoring.
Prominent French subsidiaries in India, such as Peters Surgical, Vygon, BioMérieux, Air Liquide Medical Systems, and Eradicus, were also present, showcasing their contributions to the Indian healthcare sector.
The conference received support from UJA, a consultancy assisting foreign companies in entering the Indian market and helping Indian firms invest abroad. UJA’s international desk features experts from France, Germany, and Italy, collaborating with the Indian team.
