The Medical Electronics Forum (MEF) on Thursday said the government must provide support to the Indian medical electronics equipment sector for it to witness a revolution on the same lines as witnessed in telecom and IT.

"The sector could witness a growth like telecom sector with the active support of the government," FICCI Medical Electronics Forum Chairman A Vaidheesh told PTI.

Medical Electronics Forum (MEF) is a body of electronic medical devices manufacturers.

He said the government must consider sops, including tax benefits on local manufacturing, as nearly 70 per cent of medical electronic equipment used in India are imported while 30 per cent are from local manufacturing.

"Most of the high tech equipments comes from western countries and now even China is making inroads," he said.

Currently, the size of medical electronics equipment market, which includes imaging and patient monitoring systems and implants in India is estimated to be around USD 2.5 billion, growing 15 per cent annually.

Vaidheesh said the government should also create an environment for local R&D, increase in healthcare capacity, development of new healthcare models, duty exemption of critical and life saving equipment.

Besides, a fund for training on new technology and products should also be created, he said, while also calling for uniformity in the government purchase process.