AmCham urges dedicated medical tech regulations to improve healthcare access

The American Chamber of Commerce in Bangladesh (AmCham) on Monday called for dedicated medical technology regulations to improve healthcare access and patient outcomes.

The call came at a high-level roundtable titled “Unlocking the Potential of Medical Technology to Improve Patient Outcomes in Bangladesh”, organised by the chamber in Dhaka.

AmCham presented five policy recommendations: separate Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA) guidelines for medical devices; streamlined registration with defined timelines and parallel dossier reviews; predictable maximum retail price (MRP) approvals consistent with markup guidelines and 7.5% VAT; rationalised duties and taxes on medical devices and spare parts; and simplified rules for equipment re-export for repairs and spare parts imports.

As a longer-term measure, the chamber proposed a joint workshop involving the DGDA, American and European medical technology companies, and other stakeholders to develop a dedicated regulatory framework aligned with international standards and best practices.

In his welcome address, AmCham Bangladesh President Syed Mohammad Kamal reaffirmed the chamber’s commitment to strengthening Bangladesh-US economic ties, citing more than US$5 billion in existing investments by member companies and a commitment to facilitate another $5 billion over the next five years. He said healthcare and medical technology could help achieve this goal through innovation, capacity building and improved patient care.

DGDA Director General Md Alamgir Hossain outlined regulatory priorities and ongoing reforms, including efforts to streamline registration and facilitate the resumption of inspections by international regulators. He stressed the need for timely, transparent and predictable approvals.

State Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dr M A Muhit, the chief guest, outlined government priorities, including strengthening primary healthcare, disease prevention and decentralising specialised services to divisional and district levels. Citing a record healthcare budget of around Tk70,000 crore and recent tax measures, he acknowledged delays in regulatory registration and reaffirmed efforts to expedite approvals.

He urged US companies to pursue sustainable partnerships beyond equipment sales, focusing on lifecycle costs, after-sales support, technology transfer, local manufacturing and assembly, and specialised training for Bangladeshi engineers and healthcare professionals, including those from BUET and the University of Dhaka.

He also highlighted plans for a national e-health and digital monitoring dashboard to improve medical equipment utilisation, alongside innovative financing and transparent procurement. He urged multinational companies to use corporate social responsibility initiatives to support underserved communities, particularly children with disabilities.

Dr Omar Ishrak, former chairman and CEO of Medtronic and former chairman of Intel Corporation, shared global perspectives on emerging medical technologies and their potential to strengthen Bangladesh’s healthcare system, expand access to quality care and improve patient outcomes.