Hindustan Latex Ltd (HLL), a Government of India enterprise, and BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company), a global medical technology company and leader in immunization has signed an agreement to jointly manufacture and market auto-disable syringes in India. The collaboration is expected to help prevent the reuse of syringes through the introduction of auto-disable syringes, education and training of healthcare workers, and the implementation of advocacy programs with the Government of India.

As part of the agreement, BD will manufacture and sell to HLL auto-disable syringes based on BD SoloShot technology for immunization and curative purposes for HLL. HLL will market these immunization syringes under its own brand name, 'AutoLok.' A curative syringe specially designed to prevent reuse, based on BD SoloMedâ technology, will also be manufactured by BD and sold to HLL in this agreement. BD, which has a manufacturing facility in Bawal, India, has also agreed to provide certain consulting services to HLL relating to the marketing and sale of the auto-disable and reuse prevention syringes. BD and HLL will also work together to train and educate healthcare workers about safe injection practices and the new technology.

Announcing this at a press conference here on December 16, 2004, Gary Cohen, president, BD Medical said that "BD is proud to enter into this agreement with HLL and applauds the India Health Ministry for taking decisive action against the pervasive problem of unsafe injection practices and the improper reuse of injection devices". "HLL is already a leader in HIV/AIDS prevention and this collaboration expands our capabilities. While unsafe sex remains the leading cause of the spread of this disease, medically transmitted HIV/AIDS remains the second leading cause in India." M Ayyappan, managing director, HLL said.

Reports from the World Health Organization (WHO) indicate that as many as 40 percent of all injections in the developing world are administered with reused, unsterile medical devices. In the year 2000 alone, WHO estimates indicate that 260,000 new HIV/AIDS infections, two million hepatitis C and 21 million hepatitis B infections were the result of injections from reused devices.

A recent study conducted by the Government of India revealed that 60 percent of all injections given in India were unsafe. Further, the WHO estimates that in India, alarmingly, unsafe injections account for 53.6 per cent of all hepatitis B, 59.5 per cent of hepatitis C, and 24.3 per cent of HIV/AIDS infections each year.

To address this significant public health issue, the Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss, recently declared in Parliament that the Government of India will introduce legislation to ensure the use of auto-disable syringes in its immunization programs to safeguard children from contacting diseases such as AIDS.