On 13th September in Mumbai, the Ministry of Textiles, in collaboration with The South India Textile Research Association (SITRA), organized ‘Meditex 2023,’ an international conference focusing on the Scope and Opportunities in Medical Textiles under the National Technical Textiles Mission (NTTM).
The conference featured various technical sessions, including the recent advances in medical textiles, indigenous product demand, entrepreneurial opportunities, and future directions. Industry leaders, researchers, and government representatives participated in the event, aimed at fostering innovation and commercialization in the field of medical textiles.
Smt Darshana Vikram Jardosh, Minister of State for Textiles & Railways, emphasized the need for innovation and new technology in medical textiles. She said that research organizations, academia, and industries should work together for better utilization of advanced technology. She also noted India’s rise from being a non-producer to becoming the world’s second-largest producer and exporter of PPE kits and N-95 masks in just six months.
“Young minds and startups need to be supported, especially in the medical textiles segment,” she stated, highlighting the government’s policy support through various schemes like the PLI Scheme for Textiles and the National Technical Textiles Mission.
Rajeev Saxena, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Textiles, spoke on the growing market share of medical textiles in India due to strong R&D efforts. He emphasized the need for further innovation, especially in indigenizing highly-imported items like sanitary pads and diapers.
“Medical textiles have a direct correlation with quality of life and need to be focused on in terms of both the global and domestic markets,” he said. Saxena announced that Quality Control Orders (QCOs) would soon be notified for six medical textile items, including sanitary pads and diapers.
Dr. Sailesh Pawar, a scientist at ICMR-NIV, mentioned the vital role medical textiles would play as India prepares for health emergencies similar to the COVID-19 pandemic. He also pointed out the need for innovation in bio-degradability for sustainability and recyclability in the textile industry.
The event concluded with S K Sundararaman, a member of the Council of Administration at SITRA, appreciating the initiatives taken by the Ministry of Textiles to promote the technical textile sector.