Universal Medicap Ltd. in collaboration with Board of Radiation and Isotope Technology (BRIT) has set up the gamma radiation sterilization facility for pharma, agro and healthcare products in Gujarat. The plant, Universal ISO-MED, is first of its kind in Gujarat and third in the private sector (the first started in Kolkata, the second in Mumbai).
The plant, located at Ranoli near Vadodara was completed in a record time of one year following the MoU with BRIT under the Department of Atomic Energy. It is set up at an estimated cost of Rs 5 crore.
Though, it would offer one-stop destination for reliable sterilization of various products, the facility would be primarily used for sterilizing pharma products. Informing about the importance of gamma radiation sterilization, the sources said that the advantage with gamma rays is that they can penetrate right through the package, unlike other sterilization techniques. The products or packages of any shape can be sterilized.
Further, heat sensitive plastic medical devices and pharmaceutical products can be safely sterilized in ISO-MED. It offers high flexibility and product sterility is retained indefinitely provided the package is undamaged or not tampered. Radiation sterilization enlarges the market for ready to use pre-packaged products. It is eco-friendly process and does not require aseptic handling.
The plant has 100 kilocurie of Cobalt-60 in its core chamber. The chamber comes complete with 6-feet thick concrete walls, a lead door, and a 30-feet water column to keep the nuclear pencils submerged when inactive.
Around the chamber is a control room that controls the movement of a conveyor belt system and levels of exposure for goods to be sterilized. The nuclear core has been provided by BRIT with technical tie-offs with the Bhaba Atomic Research Centre (BARC) for handling and replacing the nuclear core with a 5.27-year half-life.
Products that would be sterilized in ISO-MED include absorbent cotton wool and absorbent guaze products, sutures, hemostate medical devices, pharmaceutical products and powders, ophthalmic ointments in paraffin base, cosmetics, veterinary products, ayurvedic products and raw materials, cellulosic products, metallic products, plastic and rubber, food products and spices etc.
ISO-MED can sterilize food products like dehydrated onions and spices as well. A major breakthrough could be achieved in standards of alloy-made joints manufactured from Vadodara. This sterilisation will ensure that the local products can compete with imported joints, which are also sterilised similarly but cost several times more than the local version, said Jagdish Patel, chief managing director, Universal Medicap Limited.
The plant has been dedicated to the Department of Atomic Energy. University and research scholars would be encouraged to make visits to the plant by the promoters. The company has also undertaken talks at departmental levels with SSG Hospital departmental heads.
The company would offer free sterilization for SSG Hospital. It is also willing to train small entrepreneurs on the basic technicalities of sterile packaging at the facility. The officials from Department of Atomic Energy would conduct timely check-ups and inspection of the plant at regular intervals for leakage, informed the sources.