Cover Story

Opportunities For New Entrepreneurs In Medical Textiles -
A Sun Rise Industry And Role Of Centre Of Excellence SITRA In Promotion Of Medical Textiles

4.Textile structure in Medical textiles

Medical textile products can be made from each stage of textile manufacturing. Textiles structuring is broadly divided into 4 categories : - fabric, yarn, fabric and garments.

Product such as surgical cotton, wadding, ear buds, etc., is produced directly from textile fibres. Products such as sutures, heart valve stitching thread, dental floss, dialysis membrane filaments produced gram filament / yarn etc. In fabric structure there is further classification in terms of woven (vascular graft, reusable bed sheets & pillow covers), non woven (surgical gowns, disposable bed sheets & pillow covers), knitted (vascular graft, hernial mash, heart patch fabric), braded (Anterior cruciate ligament sutures etc), (rotator cuff). All the operational theatre garments come under stitched garment products (surgical gowns, bed sheets, etc), products made up of different textile structure (sanitary napkin/under pad, fibers of non woven, wound dressing – fibers + woven/non woven/knitted structure, etc.

5. Overall opportunities in medical textiles

Opportunities lies in technical textile machine manufacturing, specialised raw material manufacturing, setting up laboratories to test these materials /products, manpower training, etc.

• Many medical textile products are imported and not manufactured in India, so there is a huge potential for manufacturing them in India. Many medical textiles products are classified as medical devices. There is no concrete data available for medical textiles, but 80% of medical devices are imported.

• Though India is the second most populous country, the penetration of medical textiles is very less in India due to factors such as less awareness among people, cost of products and non availability of many products to common people. But now the usage of medical\ technical textiles is increasing due to the new generation with a higher disposable income, more education, easy access to media/internet.

• Higher child birthrates - mother and child.

• Medical tourism - Cost of getting treated is cheaper and faster compared to the developed countries.

• More modern hospitals are coming up, so growth of medical textiles is proportional by hiked with growth of medical business.

• Increased awareness for Medical insurance. Medical insurance companies insist hospitals to maintain a proper environment to reduce risk of HAI.

• The shift in Indian culture to western influence and globalisation has created / helped in creating more awareness about usage of medical textiles in day-to-day life such as wipes, sanitary napkins, diapers to maintain cleanliness & hygiene environment.

• Many medical textiles are used for maintaining an hygienic environment. Young Indians are interested in more comfort and cleanliness.

• Availability of almost all basic raw materials in India.

• Mandating suggestions by GOI in different ministries such as MoD, MoHFW, MoLE, MoR, MoHA.

• Government initiatives by creating centres of excellence in different fields of technical textiles. Formation of Centre of excellence for medical textile at SITRA has helped industry in many areas such as R&D, standard formation, testing/characterisation etc.

• Proactive approach of government towards boosting TT sectors by different government scheme for business community in terms of subsidies, special zones (Meditech zone, Visakhapatnam), ATUF, TMTT, etc as well as promotion of the TT scheme by every state government.

• Government is planning to mandate a few products as per BIS standards; this will help to eliminate usage of substandard products (manufactured or imported).

• Creating awareness such as distribution of free napkins by many NGOs as well as government agencies

• Cheap labour and abundance of manpower, cheap power compared to many countries can help manufacturing cheaper medical textile products.

• Mandating purchase from MSMEs

• Schemes such as Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Ayushman Bharat.

• M/C manufacturing for medical textiles such as Sanitary napkin making ,face mask making m/c etc have potential to grow huge.

6. Sector wise opportunities in medical textiles

6.1 Implantable

Usually not many life saving products are manufactured in India. India is almost fully dependant on imports. Ultimately, very costly products are not affordable to an average Indian. If invented and manufactured by Indian companies, the cost may come down drastically. Lives of many Indians can be saved. Though the demand is low and the regulatory requirements are stringent, the profit margins are high.

6.2 Non-implantable

These are the products that are used on the skin. Low profit but high demand.

6.3 Extracorporeal devices

Same as Implantable life saving and again very costly products dependent highly on imports. Though the demand is low and the regulatory requirements are stringent, the profit margins are high.

6.4 Hygiene textiles

Not much dependant on imports but still MNCs of foreign origin have considerable stake compared to the Indian manufacturers. Demand is high and investment required is low.

6.5 Healthcare textiles

Not much dependant on imports but still MNCs of foreign origin have considerable stake compared to Indian manufacturers. Demand is high and investment required is low.

7. Challenges for medical textile business

• Medical device products may require license to produce or sell products in India (New medical device rule is implemented recently).

• And still classification of medical textiles under different categories as medical devices will take time.

• Still many medical products are needed to be classified as medical devices. It may have impact on the small scale industry.

• Lack of standards - So far, SITRA has identified many medical textile products and have developed standards for those.

• Non availability of expertise for the manufacture of specialised raw materials Kevlar, Nylon66, Aramid, etc., and machinery manufacturing techniques in India.

• Lack of interest, awareness and confidence among big industries to enter into the Medical Textile business.

• Scattered industry.

• Lack of trained skilled manpower with interdisciplinary knowledge.

• Disposal of medical textile wastes.

• Cheap import from neighbouring countries such as Bangladesh, China due to reasons such as lack of BIS standards.