Business

SVPITM Organises Meditech Workshop In Coimbatore

Following the establishment of its Technical Textiles Wing, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International School of Textiles and Management (SVPITM), Coimbatore, organised a sectorial programme on medical textiles earlier this month. Southern India and Tamil Nadu in particular, is a hub for medical textiles manufacturing.

The programme attracted 80 participants from various districts of the sate. The programme was inaugurated by PadmaShri Dr. K. G. Bakthavathsalam, Chairman - KG Hospital, Coimbatore and Dr. Prakash Vasudevan, Director - The South India Textile Research Association (SITRA), Coimbatore. Dr. K. G. Bakthavathsalam emphasised the growing market for quality and innovative medical textiles in India, and the industry needs to strategise to meet this demand effectively.

Dr Prakash Vasudevan, Director, SITRA, stated that new entrepreneurs can start their business in medical textiles by implementing the standards and the resources available in SITRA. He added that the central government has sanctioned Rs 24 crore for establishment of Centre of Excellence (COE) in Medical Textiles in the past years. SITRA Centre of Excellence (COE) helps the entrepreneurs to enter the Meditech segment.

The participants underwent both theoretical and practical training in the medical textiles sector which also included industrial visits. sessions on medical textile - products, manufacturing process, technology, machines, standards, market demand and marketing strategy were part of the workshop.

The first day of the programme was reserved for various expert lectures from medical textile domain. Rajagopal, Head, Indian Statistical Institute delivered a case study on New Innovation in Medical Textiles and Commercialisation - Wound dressing. The case study was followed by an elaboration on the various phases from developing an innovative product to commercialising the same.

Jayanathan, Manager - Central Sterile Supply Department, from KMCH illustrated the market demand and marketing strategy for meditech products and deliberated on textile materials used in waste management of health centres. The department works towards the article infection free from various pathogens like bacteria and viruses. He also talked about modern waste disposal and management techniques adopted in multi-specialty hospitals. In addition to it he also elaborated on the various aspects that lead to demand factors of a meditech products.

The industrial visits included COE medical textiles, SITRA and Splendor Medicare Technologies, Coimbatore.

SITRA CoE is equipped with the latest machines for manufacturing face masks, sanitary napkins and wipes. The machines can be hired by the industry for product development, test marketing and commercialisation.

Splendour Medicare Technologies is a company which was established by a group of textile experts and doctors. The entire manufacturing line for customised surgical products was displayed to the participants. Splendour Medicare Technologies is an expert in manufacturing of various isolation drapes (for customised application).

The third day of the programme was earmarked for the participants to do a self-analysis of the medical textile sector. The analysis was initiated by providing them with a survey questionnaire which had to be filled by a doctor or a hospital administrator.

The survey questionnaire was to encourage the participants to discover the scope of certain medical textile products so that they can focus on developing something new.

This would also lead to a participant-doctor discussion which could lead to a doctor sharing his needs to the participant. The participant had to fill the survey by interviewing a doctor, who owns a personal clinic, or a hospital administrator, who is involved in management of a multi-specialty hospital.

The fourth and final day involved interaction over the questionnaire. There were sessions on various stages in New Product Development, Brain Storming of ideas related to Medical Textile products, SWOT Analysis for the Medical Textile sector, discussion on Intellectual Property Rights and New Business startups.