Glove Safety at Stake: Indian Industry Calls for Government Intervention

Image Source: ET Healthworld

Indian glove makers are desperately urging the government to implement the Medical and Surgical Gloves (Quality Control) Order (QCO) without delay, with the warning that patient safety as well as the future of India's own glove industry hangs in the balance.

Key Highlights:

The QCO, brought about by the Department of Pharmaceuticals, makes it necessary to get Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) certification for all medical and surgical gloves, whether imported or domestic. The order has already finished its 60-day public hearing period with the World Trade Organization (WTO), but formal notification and implementation are still awaited.

Industry associations, such as the Indian Rubber Glove Manufacturers Association (IRGMA), cite illegal imports and infractions on regulations. Dishonest importers are said to be hoarding substandard gloves, relabeling them as medical-grade, and dumping them into hospitals and clinics, putting patients and healthcare professionals at great risk.

The QCO is likely to control Rs 600–700 crore worth of annual imports of gloves, allowing only BIS-approved, ISI-marked gloves for medical purposes. The step is intended to stem the flow of inferior gloves from Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, and China.

Domestic producers claim that the failure to enforce is destabilizing the sector, denting the 'Make in India' campaign, and leading to unfair competition as low-priced non-compliant gloves flood the market.

Industry leaders emphasize that prompt QCO adoption is imperative to safeguard public health, facilitate level playing field competition, and enhance quality domestic output. They call on the government not to delay, cautioning that inaction could trigger a national health emergency.

Source: Deccan Herald