MEDITECH Innovations for Better Health & Hygiene SHISHIR JAIPURIA

1. MEDITECH Innovations for Better Health & Hygiene SHISHIR JAIPURIA Chairman, FICCI Taskforce on Technical Textiles

2. What is Meditech? • Market Potential • Healthcare & Hygiene • Problems with Existing Medical Textiles in India • Technological Developments • Way Forward

3. What is Meditech? • Meditech includes textile materials used in hygiene, health, personal care, surgical applications • Depending upon the area of application, medical textiles are categorized as under: • Non- implantables • Healthcare & Hygiene products • Implantables • Extra-corporeal

6. Market for Medical Textiles • Current Domestic Consumption of Medical Textiles- Rs 2365 cr • Rs 1514 cr is the Technical Textiles Component • By 2012-13 Domestic Consumption of Medical Textiles- Rs 3737 cr • Rs 2263 cr is the Technical Textiles Component • Heavily Import Dependent • Unorganised Segment

7. Healthcare & Hygiene- Largest Segment • Includes products like – • Surgical / wound dressings • Gowns / drapes • Diapers / fem-care pads / adult incontinence diapers • Bed sheet / curtains / Towels / Mitts / Wipes • One of the fastest growing segment in Textiles

8. Healthcare & Hygiene- Largest Segment • Reasons for growth of this segment – • Growing awareness among society for hygiene and safety • Frequent interactions of medical professionals with international medical societies • Availability of new technologically advanced products • Medical tourism

9. Desired Properties of Meditech Bio – degradablePurified and Hygienic Fast & Highly absorbentWicking performance Barrier to percolationGood Insulation Good thermal stabilityNon toxic Non allergicAbility to be sterilized Mechanical propertiesSoft feel StrengthElasticity Durability Bio-compatibility Excellent drape abilityBreathability Static DissipationEngineered Specialties Anti-microbial

10. Limitations of Meditech Made of Traditional Fibres like Cotton • Less durable in view of lower tensile and tearing strengths • Form lint due to protruding surface fibres which can adhere to the wounds • Less resistant to acids and can contain residual acids harmful to the skin • Do not have anti microbial properties • Can attract mildew under hot and humid conditions prevalent in India and thus is not the right choice for medical use • Residual starch left in cotton can act as a feedstock for micro-organisms which is harmful to the skin affected by wounds • Attract more dust and can lead to growth of micro-organisms and other pests • Foreign impurities like hair, jute, colour yarn, HDPE, motes, kities, leaves, etc. left in the finished fabric and may be harmful

11. Technological Developments • In India, traditionally the segment is dominated by Woven Textiles • Lately, new technology Nonwoven products have provided innovative product options • Nonwoven fabrics – Engineered fabrics from sheet of fibres, with desired properties (performance characteristics) to suite specific applications; such as – • Very high fluid repellency or absorbency • Extremely low linting • Fast wicking of liquids • Anti-static • Nonwoven fabrics are providing customized solutions in cost effective manner, and are thus taking important place in meditechworldwide • Fabrics with anti-microbial properties • Fire retardant fabrics • Single Use Fabrics

12. Technological Developments • Breathable Viral Barrier Gown- Level 4 • Surgical gowns • Reduces cross-contamination between medical staff & patient’s body fluids • Superior barrier against viruses such as: • Hepatitis, HIV, AIDS, CJD • MRSA (bacteria) • SARS, Avian influenza • PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) apparel • Protection for pandemic Influenza

13. AAMI Level Classifications for Surgical Gowns Least Protective Most Protective

14. Way Forward • Amendments in Schedule F-II of Indian Drugs & Cosmetic Act to include Medical Textiles made from man-made fibres

15. Key Areas Surgical Specialty Cardiology Cardiac bypass surgery Cosmetics Hip replacement Orthopedics surgery Organ transplants Dentistry Cosmetic surgery Eye care Dental surgery Preventive health checks Vision correction Way Forward Need to Adopt International Standards • Overburdened health infrastructure and high costs in the west, a key driver for looking at India • Around 50 mn citizens are uninsured in US • India offers highly cost-competitive and technologically advanced treatments options • With the growing awareness, the world is going for stringent product quality standards • Need to align Indian standards with these global developments, like – • Barrier efficiency of gowns / drapes • Chemical & Micro-biological testing for dressings • Need to adopt standards for newly developed products, like – • Disposable gowns • Nonwoven dressings • Face masks

16. Way Forward The British Pharmacopia (BP -2007) and Other National Standards • British Pharmacopia, European and Japanese standards specify the use of woven and non-woven spun lace made of man-made fibres and their blends in view of their better functional and performance properties.

17. Way Forward Promote Usage of Disposable/Single Use Medical Fabrics • Why prefer single-use fabrics to reusable textile: • Safer for doctors, nurses and patient • High barrier to blood or body fluids • Lower lint than linen (lint is a source of infection) • Proven sterilization performance • Comfort and breathability • Compliance with International Standards (AAMI-Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation etc)

18. Way Forward • Provide Incentives for Export Promotion • Latest Foreign Trade Policy Announcement included Technical Textiles Products under Focus Product Scheme • Provide DEPB/Drawback benefits Also

19. Way Forward • Incentives to Encourage Conversion of Technical Textiles Under TUFS • Provide 20-25% Capital Subsidy in lieu of 5% Interest Rate

20. Your Suggestions are Welcome Thank You