Coimbatore is well-known hub not only for textiles but healthcare facilities too. The Centre of Excellence for Medical Textiles at the South India Textile Research Association in Coimbatore has organized a three-day medical textile exhibition and conference till March 2, supported by the Union Ministry of Textile to promote the use of textile products and medical textile industry. Textile products used in the healthcare sector are not just bandages, surgical masks and gloves. It includes implants such as hernia mesh, hygiene products, use-and-throw surgical clothing, etc.

The exhibition has around 60 participants, including 25 from other States and one from Germany exhibiting machinery to make some of these products, surgical gowns, clothing, diapers, gauze materials, implants, special beds, bandages, etc.

Further to protect the surgeons from infections, a Mumbai-based hospital will demonstrate on Saturday a complete suit made out of composite textile material.

Meditex 2014 and Medineeds 2014 aim at creating awareness among the public on medical textiles. Seminars will be held on all three days for students, surgeons, police officers, textile mill workers, foundry workers, and hospital housekeeping staff as special textile products are available for safety and hygiene for everyone.

India has just a handful of machinery manufacturers and most of them import the critical components for the machinery. The industry can tap the opportunity available in the range of products and the machinery through this medical textile exhibition and conference.