In a significant development for India’s healthcare innovation sector, the World Health Innovation Forum (WHIF), based at the Andhra Pradesh MedTech Zone (AMTZ), has been selected as the sole global initiative to become part of the BRICS+ Manufacturing Working Group. This influential platform fosters collaboration on industrial policy and manufacturing strategies among BRICS nations and other Global South countries.
The selection comes as India prepares to take over the BRICS Presidency in 2026, underscoring the growing recognition of the country’s contributions to global healthcare innovation. WHIF’s inclusion highlights India’s rising influence in the medtech space and affirms Vizag’s position as a strategic center for health-focused cooperation among developing economies.
Dr Jitendra Sharma, Managing Director and Founder CEO of AMTZ, said, “This is an affirmation of India’s expertise in cost-effective, scalable medical technologies. The WHIF model, developed within AMTZ, demonstrates how innovations can be tailored to meet the specific healthcare needs of the Global South while maintaining global quality standards. Collaboration with the WHO and the Kalam Institute, a WHO Collaborating Centre, has been crucial in reaching this milestone.”
WHIF operates from AMTZ, which is the world’s largest integrated manufacturing facility for medical devices. Over the years, WHIF has built a strong track record through initiatives such as the iPassport program, the World Health Innovation Fellowship, and EntrepreNari. These efforts have supported innovators, women entrepreneurs, and startups from more than 20 low- and middle-income countries, offering them access to advanced infrastructure, regulatory assistance, and global health policy networks.
As a new member of the BRICS+ Manufacturing Working Group, WHIF will play a central role in facilitating joint R&D initiatives, expanding international access to India’s medtech manufacturing and testing resources, and helping partner nations build their own localized medical innovation systems.
WHIF’s Chief Operating Officer, Mohini Mehta, described the selection as “a major endorsement of India’s innovation-driven healthcare model.” She added, “Joining the BRICS+ initiative is more than recognition—it’s a commitment to co-develop sovereign, scalable, and affordable medical technologies for global communities.”
The Andhra Pradesh MedTech Zone (AMTZ) is India’s premier medical technology manufacturing park, based in Visakhapatnam. Since its inception, AMTZ has been at the forefront of advancing healthcare innovation, production, and policy to support both national and global health systems.
