Andhra Pradesh MedTech Zone (AMTZ), Association of Healthcare Providers India (AHPI), and Association of Indian Medical Device Industry (AiMeD) have announced the launch of the Healthcare Textiles Processing Facility Certification Scheme.

The scheme aims to ensure the quality of healthcare textiles, including personal protective equipment (PPE), by certifying the facilities that process them.

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of healthcare textiles and PPE in protecting healthcare workers and patients from infection. However, the quality of these products depends not only on the materials used but also on the processing facilities where they are sterilised, cleaned, and packaged. The Healthcare Textiles Processing Facility Certification Scheme will help ensure that these facilities meet international standards for quality and safety.

Under the scheme, healthcare textiles processing facilities can apply for certification by undergoing a rigorous evaluation process that includes site visits, documentation reviews, and testing of samples. The certification will be valid for three years, after which the facility will need to undergo a recertification process.

The Healthcare Textiles Processing Facility Certification Scheme has been developed with the input of experts from AMTZ, AHPI, AiMeD, and other organisations in the healthcare industry. The scheme will cover processing of multiple-use healthcare textiles only as single-use healthcare textiles are meant for single use only and are a threat to the environment also. 

The Healthcare Textiles Processing Facility Certification Scheme is open for applications from healthcare textiles processing facilities in India and abroad.