3. 3
Medical Textiles
Medical textiles is an emerging sector of technical
textiles industry and its growth is fuelled due to
constant improvements in healthcare as well as
innovations in the textile field.
The use of textile materials for medical and
healthcare products can be classified into following
main areas –
- Barrier material (for infection control)
- Bandaging & pressure garment
- Wound care material
- Hygiene material
- Implantable material (sutures, art. Joints etc)
- Extra Corporal devices (like art. Kidney etc)
4. 4
Medical Textiles
Requirements of textile material for
medical applications
Biocompatible
Good resistance to alkalis, acids and
micro-organisms
Good dimensional stability
Elasticity
Free from contamination or impurities
Absorption / Repellency
Air permeability.
5. The various applications of different fibre in
medical field are shown as follows:
Sr No. Fibre Application in medical field
1 Cotton
Surgical clothing gowns, Beddings, Sheets, Pillow cover,
Uniforms, Surgical hosiery
2 Viscose Caps, Masks, Wipes
3 Polyester
Gowns, Masks, Surgical cover drapes, Blankets, Cover
stock
4 Polyamide Surgical hosiery
5 Polypropylene Protective clothing
6 Polyethylene Surgical covers, Drapes
7 Glass Caps mask
8 Elastomeric Surgical hosiery
5
6. • Includes products like –
• Surgical / wound dressings
• Gowns / drapes
• Diapers / femcare pads / adult incontinence
diapers
• Bedsheets / curtains / Towels / Mitts / Wipes
• Largest segment of Medical Textiles
• One of the fastest growing segment in Textiles
Healthcare & Hygiene
7. • In India, traditionally this segment is dominated
by Woven Textiles
• Lately, new technology Nonwoven products
have provided innovative product options
• 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
Healthcare & Hygiene
8. crucial issues regarding medical products
Natural against chemical or manufactured fibres
Disposable against reusable or durable fabrics
Antibacterial or antimicrobial fibres against
finishes or coatings for infection control
Methods of disposal of clinical waste i.e. landfills
against incineration and other forms of medical and
clinical waste disposal
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9. • Fabrics with anti-microbial properties
• Fire retardant fabrics
• Nonwoven fabrics – They are 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 meditech worldwide
Technological Advancements
10. • With the growing awareness, the world is going
for stringent product quality standards.
• There is a need to align Indian standards with
these global developments, like –
• Barrier efficiency of gowns / drapes
• Chemical & Micro-biological testing for
dressings
• There is need to adopt standards for newly
developed products, like –
• Disposable gowns
• Nonwoven dressings
• Face masks
Advancements in product standards
11. Opportunities & Challenges ahead
Opportunities –
Consumption is increasing rapidly
Pvt. Hospital chains are growing
Doctor/patient awareness for hygiene is increasing
Medical tourism
Challenges –
China has become very strong in most of Healthcare
& hygiene products
There are very few BIS standards in place leading to
substandard quality products being used
Export benefits like DD/DEPB not notified for many
products 11
12. Consumption of different
categories of medical textiles:
SR Medical Textile Product Market potential (Rs Mn)
2005 2010
1 Sanitary Napkins 4819 8519
2 Incontinence diapers 605 1070
3 Surgical dressing 5828 10302
4 Health care textiles 1491 2635
5 Sutures 3160 5587
6 Medical devices &
Implants
1190 2104
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13. Govt. Policy Support Required
13
⇒ Fast development of BIS standards in lieu with
the International standards. Lot of new product
standards to be added
⇒ Amendment of Drugs & Cosmetics Act to
accommodate new technologies such as
nonwoven products
⇒ To promote new technology products, Govt.
hospitals to be advised on the advantages of
these products and their BIS standards
14. Govt. Policy Support Required
EXCISE
TARIFF
PRODUCTS EXCISE
DUTY
DEPB DUTY
DRAWBACK
3005
1020
ADESIVE
DRESSINGS
/ TAPES
10 % NIL 1%
3005
9040
BANDAGES 10% NIL 1%
3307
1090
WET WIPES /
PATIENT
MITTS
10% NIL 5%
14
⇒ There is immense potential for exports of medical
textile products from India. However, no DEPB / DD
rates are declared for most of the products, to cover
the local duties paid. Some examples are -
15. Three important lessons might be useful for present
and future entrepreneurs interested to develop
Medical Textile products:
1. Manufacturing is an integrated system
2.Manufacturing must be driven by customers’
experiences and needs, not solely based on
profitability
3. Embrace innovation and bring changes
before your competitors adopt that
15
16. Last but not the least, manufacturers of
Medical Textile products must keep them
abreast of the ethical issues and international
standard norms. With great strength of Textile
technologists in our country, India has a huge
potential to be the leader in the World in the
field of Medical Textiles.
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