R Technical Textiles - Buyer’s Perspective With Regards Medical Department, Indian Railways Dr. A K Kanchan, Chief Medical Director, Central Railway

R Indian Railways Medical Department Statistics DescriptionFigures Number of Employees RELHS (Retd. Employees) Lakhs 3.14 Lakhs Number of Beneficiaries62.71 Lakhs Number of Railway Doctors Other Specialists Number of Para-medical and other staff 57,000 Number of Hospitals125 Health Units586

R DescriptionFigures Number of Beds13,963 Number of Indoor Patients5.1 Lakhs / Yr Number of OPD Patients2.60 Cr / Yr Number of Operations Supra Major Major Minor 3153 / Yr 40,579 / Yr 88,332 / Yr Indian Railways Medical Department Statistics (contd ….)

R DescriptionFigures Traveling passengers attended 24,000 / Yr Medical Examinations conducted per Year 67,000 (Pre- placement) 1,27,000 (Serving Employees) Indian Railways Medical Department Statistics (contd ….)

R Estimated budget of Medical Department Rs ( which is 2.3 % of total Railway Budget ) Crores Value of above mentioned services 2146 as per CGHS rates Crores Budget Indian Railways Medical Department Statistics (contd ….)

R From ancient times the textile materials were used for medical applications in India viz. surgical sponge, linen, silk sutures, strips, catgut, etc. Latest technological developments has enabled extensive use of technical textiles in healthcare industry today. Introduction

R In the Patient (Intra-corporal applications) On the Patient Near the Patient For the Patient Categorisation of Technical textiles in Medical Field

R Sutures (biodegradable and non biodegradable) soft tissue implants Artificial tendon (meshes) Artificial ligament Artificial cartilage, Orthopedic implants artificial joint Cardiovascular implants vascular grafts Heart valves Usage category In the Patient – bio-contact for days to months

R Simple bandages Light support bandages Compression bandages Orthopedic bandages Surgical Gauze Cotton Slings Diapers Eye Pads Drapers Sanitary products Patient Hospital Uniform Adhesive tapes On the Patient – bio-contact for minutes to hours

R Near the Patient – No bio-contact, ordinary contact possible Bed sheet Pillow cover Other linen items viz. Blanket, Hand Towels etc. Heating Pad

R Face Mask Gowns Caps Aprons Mops Shoe Cover For the Patient – No contact

R Healthcare/ hygiene products Include bedding, clothing, surgical clothes, products for feminine hygiene like sanitary napkins, baby and adult diapers etc. Non-implantable materials For wound care that includes absorbent pad (wound contact layer, base material viscose, plastic film) and bandages (simple inelastic/elastic, orthopaedic, plasters, gauzes, lint, padding) Areas of usage

R A range of natural fibers and biodegradable polymers with non-biodegradable synthetic polymers are being utilised for developing new products in medical textiles. Since the medical textile applications are directly related to the life of human being, these are required to undergo stringent testing and hygienic criteria. This led to innovative use of variety of fibers and lot of developments taking place in this field.

R Cotton Polyester Polypropylene Viscose glass fiber Wood fluff Polyamide Fibers used in manufacturing of nonwovens for medical applications

R Quality Standards as per FDA ItemThreads per Dimensio ns Weight in g/m 2 Length and Width Other Bandage Cloth Wrap 150, Weft tolerance of 5% 99 % of size mentioned on the label Foreign Matter Not more than 2% Absorbe nt Gauze Wrap 75, Weft tolerance of 5% 98 % of size mentioned on the label Foreign Matter Not more than 1% Avg. sinking time not more than 10 secs. Roll Bandage for POP Wrap 150, Weft tolerance of 5% 98 % of size mentioned on the label Standards prescribed by FDA for some of the items is tabulated below

R Textiles are very important in all aspects of medicine and surgery. Advances in nonwovens have resulted in a new breed of medical textiles. Advanced composite materials containing combination of fibres and fabrics have been developed for applications where biocompatibility and strength are required. It is predicted that the nonwoven materials will continue to have greater impact in this sector because of large member of characteristics and performance criteria required from these materials. Conclusion

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