Dr JK Sharma created AMTZ – as the pioneering hub for medical devices putting India on the global footprint for medical devices. More importantly, he built AMTZ- a mini city for producing medical devices in a 300-acre greenfield campus in just 342 days, setting up records on global scale. Owing to his work, the WHO -headquarters at Geneva, for the first time, decided to host the WHO Global Forum for Medical Devices in India, at AMTZ, Vizag bringing in over delegates from over 100 countries, to celebrate the success of creation of AMTZ. This is considered as a major diplomatic achievement for India, on global scale in medical technology.

Dr Sharma has led the medical technology progress in India for over 15 years and is responsible for major reforms in the sector. He has Chaired or has been member of almost every single task force created by Govt. of India to lead national schemes such as PLI (Production Linked Incentive scheme drafting committee), Medical
Devices Park scheme committee, ICMR medical devices mission secretariate, Bio-Tech park committee of DBT, Ministry of Science & Technology, among others.

Role in Covid response:

During Covid, Dr. Sharma led the establishment of DBT-AMTZ Command Centre, which starting from scratch became the pioneering supply hub for providing covid related medical devices. Today, the Command Centre at AMTZ, Vizag produces over 10 lakhs (1 Million) RT-PCR covid tests, and over 1000 oxygen concentrators every day. AMTZ is now a member of BRICS Business Council and hosts the Centre of Excellence for Medical Technology for BRICS countries. Similarly, Kalam Institute of Health Technology set up by Dr. Sharma is recognized as World’s first WHO Collaborating Centre for Health Innovations.

Specific Contributions to engagement of India with other countries:

Dr. Jitendra Sharma has been a consistent bridge between India and Australia in the domain of medical science, technology, and trade. Dr. Sharma has been a faculty with University of Adelaide for 12 years, while engaged in pioneering work in India in health and medical technology. Dr. Sharma is also a member of Austrade South Asia Healthcare Advisory Council- which endeavours to shape India-Australia bilateral relationship in health sector. Dr Sharma was instrumental in establishing two centres of Australian Universities in India, which includes the Centre for 3-D Bioprinting of University of Wollongong and the Joanna Briggs Institute of Evidence Based Medicine of the University of Adelaide.

The 3-D Bioprinting Centre at AMTZ which works in collaboration with University of Wollongong is one of its kind centre which demonstrates next generation work on engineering and bio-fabricating cells and tissues for potential use as organs. The science is rapidly evolving and has the potential to led into break-through work of engineering 3D- Bio Printed Organs.

The JBI Centre for Evidence Based Medicine of University of Adelaide at Kalam Institute of Health Technology, also set up by Dr. Sharma, deals with evidence synthesis of health interventions and adds the validated synthesized information into the global body of knowledge.

Dr. Sharma and his team have also led to establishment of bilateral commercial engagement between several life sciences and biomedical engineering companies in India and Australia. AMTZ- the lead organization established by Dr. Sharma continues to serve as the landing pad for corporations, researchers, and entrepreneurs to enhance market access, regulatory compliance, product development and capacity building.

Past work:

Dr Sharma earlier established the Healthcare Technology Division at NHSRC under Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India and was the Founder Director of WHO Collaborating Centre for Medical Devices. As Founder and head of Healthcare Technology -WHO Centre at NHSRC, Ministry of Health, Govt. of India, Dr. Sharma led the design and implementation of several national programs, such as National Dialysis Program, National Mobile Hospital program, National Diagnostics Program, National Tele-Radiology Program, National Equipment Maintenance Program, and created the technical specifications for procurement of all medical devices for National Health Mission.

His experience includes that at Sri Sathya Sai Medical Institutions, as consultant to World Bank, as Advisor Consultant to the World Health Organization,
headquarters-Geneva, and advisor to Health Technology Innovation Centre at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT).

Academic Background:

Dr Sharma has authored over 50 research papers, several technical compendiums and 3 books, besides contributing to several WHO reports. He has been designer and coordinator for several technology driven health programs in India and teaches courses on health policy & health technology in several global institutions. Dr. Sharma has three academic PhD/doctorate degrees, and his trainings includes that in AIIMS - New Delhi; PMDA-Japan; Uppsala Monitoring Centre - Sweden; JBI Institute- Australia; Harvard School of Public Health – USA, Vrije Universiteit- Amsterdam, Tata Institute- Mumbai, MATS University-Raipur and Sri Satya Sai Institute of Higher Learning- Prashanti Nilayam.

Awards & Recognition:

Dr Sharma has been Awarded the European Union –India Young Leaders Award at European Union Parliament, Brussels for his distinguished work in medical technology sector. He is first Indian to be conferred with the prestigious Laufmann Greatbatch Award by AAMI- USA and has been also conferred the Leadership Excellence Award by American College of Clinical Engineering.