Vanshika Kaji, Co-Founder, KNYA Med highlights that the usage of medical apparels is no longer limited to external applications. It spreads to interior purposes such as surgical procedures. It is the fastest-growing segment of the technical textiles industry
The healthcare sector has always been a skeleton of India’s growing economy. It is our country’s most important cornerstone and asset. But the onset of the pandemic has tested the sector. Healthcare workers ensure every possibility so that citizens receive the essential medical aid on time.
The healthcare market is always changing, and providers seek to deliver top-notch services to everyone. While the medtech area has seen a lot of innovation, we need to push beyond basic telemedicine to fulfill universal healthcare requirements.
The two key components of India’s healthcare delivery system are public and private. In rural areas, the government, i.e. the public healthcare system, has limited secondary and tertiary care institutions and focuses on delivering basic healthcare through primary healthcare centers (PHCs). The bulk of secondary, tertiary, and quaternary care facilities are run by the private sector, with a concentration in metros and tier-I and tier-II cities.
After China, India is the world’s second-largest textile producer. However, India is still in very nascent stages when it comes to technical textiles. Medical apparel has been ignored for years, but in recent times, it is suddenly gaining more attention. Furthermore, the ability to develop low-cost medical apparel items offers opportunities to the international market. Medical apparels is one of India’s most rapidly rising technical textile fields. Technical textiles are textiles that have been developed and manufactured to fulfill precise functional features for specific end-use, and that have been engineered by integrating the properties of various textile structures and materials.
Textile is a necessary component of the healthcare industry. In the realm of medical apparels, high quality and precision are necessary. This field is showing healthy and consistent growth. Every day, new advancements in the world of apparels emerge. Medical apparels refer to a wide range of products, including surgical gowns, lab coats and scrubs.
However, the usage of medical apparels is no longer limited to external applications. It spreads to interior purposes such as surgical procedures. It is the fastest-growing segment of the technical textiles industry. Its widespread use may be seen in biological and medicinal applications, as well as in first aid, sanitary, and therapeutic applications.
Raw materials of medical apparel
The medical textile segment is broadly categorised into 2 segments: non-woven and woven.
Non-woven is a fabric like material which is made artificially with the use of chemicals and processes. These are almost always for single use and can not be washed. Clothing like personal protective equipment (PPE), surgery drapes, disposable bed sheets and coveralls are examples of non woven apparel. On the other hand, apparel made of woven material are usually blends of cotton, polyester and viscose. They are for multiple use, and can be washed regularly. Scrub suits, lab coats and surgery gowns are examples of woven apparel. Within the woven category,
Need and requirements of medical apparel
Different materials are employed for different end uses, such as biodegradable materials in sutures and absorbent textiles in swabs. Medical apparels should be made of non-carcinogenic, non-toxic, and non-allergenic materials which are easy to autoclave. It is crucial that the garment is sterilised before entering the operation theater.
The future
In India, the medical apparel business is still in its infancy, therefore there is a lot of room for expansion. Medical apparel is primed for expansion, thanks to the government’s goal of building world-class infrastructure in the country, as well as the implementation of many policies and schemes to improve the textile sector. Medical apparels are a new generation of products made using cutting-edge nanotechnology. Additionally, the increase in the number of young medicos has created a surge in demand for cool, functional and fashionable medical apparel.
Such a informative article