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Philips Identifies India For Medical
Equipment Biz
PHILIPS has identified India along with China and Japan to grow its medical
equipment business in the Asia Pacific region. The company wants to grow this
business in India with its next generation imaging equipment to be rolled out in
phases from its global portfolio. "India is a strategic market for Philips
globally to grow its medical equipment business. The growth here will be
triggered by the huge private investment in healthcare and growing spending
power of the patients," said Philips Electronics India director (Sales &
Marketing - Medical System) J Sunderrajan told reporters here on Saturday.
Philips claims to have a dominant market share in product segment like Cath Lab,
MRI and cardiac monitoring systems. The company is also contemplating to
undertake clinical trials for medical equipment in India. However, it is yet to
finalise plans for such activities. "Clinical trials for medical equipment is a
complex process and there are several regulatory issues. However, we already
undertake software trials for medical equipment in India to validate their
efficacy," said Mr. Sunderrajan.
(Ref: The Economic Times dated June 11, 2007)
BD Medical Launches Pro-Safety IV Catheter To
Help Health Workers
BD Medical, a segment of BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company), a leading global
medical technology company, has launched the Venflon pro-safety IV catheter with
safety features against needlestick injury. The product is launched in the wake
of studies suggesting that over one million needlestick injuries occur every
year worldwide.
The new product, launched in India, will extend protection against needlestick
injuries and minimise the risk due to blood exposure, especially for the health
workers. Needlestick injuries can lead to the transmission of fatal blood borne
infections including hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and the
human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Studies have found that each year, sharps
injuries are responsible for over 65,000 new HBV infections, 16,000 new HIV
infections.
According to a study conducted at the Hinduja Hospital in Mumbai, most
needlestick injuries occur during intravenous line insertion, followed by blood
collection and then surgical blade injury and recapping needles, said BD India
managing director Ram Sharma after launching the product.
It was launched in Europe two months ago and the Indian subsidiary has brought
it now in the Indian markets, considering the need of such technologies here.
The company, which also launched a product for patient care a few months back,
was looking to introduce more innovative products here, BD Medical general
manager Rajnish Rohatgi told Pharmabiz.
The BD Venflon pro-safety catheter has an advanced needle shield design to
safeguard healthcare workers from needlestick injuries. Once activated, the
needle tip is encapsulated inside the smooth-edged plastic shield, thereby
reducing the risk of healthcare workers injuring themselves with the sharp
needle tip. In fact, in a recent study conducted in clinics in Europe, over 86
percent gave BD Venflon pro-safety catheter a more than adequate rating for
protection against needlestick injuries.
(Ref: Chronicle Pharmabiz dated May 10, 2007)
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