New Delhi: In a landmark achievement for India’s medical technology sector, a clinical team at the Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences (MAIDS) successfully performed customised Temporo-Mandibular Joint (TMJ) implant surgeries on four patients, marking a breakthrough in indigenous healthcare innovation.
Milestone in Indigenous MedTech Development
MAIDS, designated as a Centre for Advanced Research (CAR) of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and coordinated by the Medical Device and Diagnostics Mission Secretariat (MDMS) under the Division of Development Research, accomplished this feat as part of India’s mission to strengthen self-reliance in medical device manufacturing.
Implant Developed at IIT Delhi’s mPRAGATI Facility
The TMJ implant was indigenously developed at the ICMR-DHR MedTech Product Development Acceleration Gateway of India (mPRAGATI), a cutting-edge innovation facility housed at IIT Delhi. The implant represents a major leap in reducing dependency on imported products and improving access to affordable, high-quality devices for Indian patients.
Step Toward Atmanirbhar Bharat Vision
This achievement is seen as a significant contribution to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, one of the key pillars of Viksit Bharat. It demonstrates how India’s strong research collaborations and the synergy between academia and clinical centres are propelling the growth of a robust indigenous MedTech ecosystem.
Health Minister Lauds Indigenous Breakthrough
Union Health Minister JP Nadda hailed the accomplishment, stating, “The successful implantation of customized TMJ implant at MAIDS, supported by ICMR and mPRAGATI-IIT Delhi, reflects the growing strength of India’s MedTech sector. This shows how homegrown innovation, backed by research and policy support, can deliver affordable and impactful healthcare solutions.”
ICMR Chief Highlights Research-Clinical Synergy
Dr. Rajiv Bahl, Director General of ICMR, emphasised the collaborative nature of the innovation, saying, “This development highlights the power of clinical and engineering partnerships in delivering real-world health solutions. ICMR is proud to support innovations that lower costs and improve patient outcomes, advancing India’s leadership in affordable healthcare technologies.”
Key Benefits of the Indigenous TMJ Implant
The indigenous implant offers three major advantages — technical, cost, and time efficiency.
- Technical: It is custom-designed to enhance jaw movement, provide greater stability, and support muscle attachment for improved aesthetics and faster recovery.
- Cost: Developed under the Make in India initiative, it costs nearly one-fifth of Indian-made implants and up to one-tenth of imported versions, vastly improving affordability.
- Timeline: Local manufacturing has cut the turnaround time to around two weeks, ensuring quicker treatment and rehabilitation.
A Scalable Model for Future MedTech Innovation
Experts note that the success of the ICMR-DHR-supported platforms demonstrates how translational research can transform indigenous ideas into real-world healthcare applications. The collaboration between clinicians and biomedical engineers at MAIDS and IIT Delhi sets a scalable model for future personalised implants and indigenous MedTech advancements in India.
