Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Friday said his government is mulling to set a hub for manufacturing of medical equipment in the state. Naidu, who was on a visit to Delhi, said this in a meeting with Medical Equipment Manufacturers' Forum and Union Health Ministry officials, according to an official statement.

Observing that AP has the advantage of a long coastline and deep water ports, he said the government plans to come up with a policy on medical equipment manufacturing.

The release quoted Medical Equipment Manufacturers Forum as saying that in spite of having a market size of Rs 16,000 crore, India is currently importing 78 per cent of medical equipment. This, he said, is mainly because of lack of talent and infrastructure.

The Chief Minister invited a Forum delegation along with Government of India representatives to visit Andhra Pradesh and select suitable sites for setting up base, the release added.

Health Minister Kamineni Srinivas, Advisor (Communications) Parakala Prabhakar, Special Representative of Government of AP in New Delhi, K Rammohan Rao and senior officials were present on the occasion.