Gadag doc’s tailor-made solution for PPE shortage

Bengaluru: Owing to acute shortage of Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) in the country’s hospitals, a Gadag-based doctor is producing PPEs with the help of local tailors.
Dr Pavan Patil from Gadag, a member of Karnataka Medical Council, says his PPEs are made with local material but meet prescribed international standards. The equipment is made of non-woven material, polypropylene and polyester.
“The material used is of the thickness 60 gsm (grams per square metre), which I procure from Hubballi in bulk.The PPE specifications are such that it shouldn’t absorb anything falling on it. No liquid should seep through the material, including fluids. That’s exactly what we have experimented with. We sprayed a syringe of blood, urine and serum on the PPEs stitched by our team and they didn’t get wet at all,” said Dr Pavan. The work began six days ago.
The PPEs are stitched in such a way that none of the body parts is exposed. From head to toes, they provide complete protection to the health workers wearing them. For the shoe cover, the team has used thick plastic material used in packaging. The leg cover has elastic finishing at its mouth as it helps in tightening,” he said.
For the hood, Dr Pavan has used a transparent OHP sheet in front. The PPE comes with slightly broader goggles. “These are wider than regular ones and are used by patients after cataract surgery to prevent infection,” said Dr Pavan.
Dr Pavan said he first spoke to a tailor who stitched school uniforms and briefed him about the requirements of any PPE. “They have done a great job. Amid the lockdown, local police gave them the required permission to work,” he added.
PPEs must be scientifically disposed of using an incinerator after single use. While one currently costs anywhere between Rs 900 and Rs 2,500, Dr Pavan said his PPE costs Rs 600, emphasising that he would supply them for free to hospitals in the region. Currently, six tailors are stitching 300 PPEs a day at a factory.
Bhawar Oswal, 63, a school uniform entrepreneur from Gadag, is spearheading the stitching team. “Each PPE weighs about 800-900 grams. Compared to regular clothes, it's tough to stitch as the material is thick. But we have experienced tailors who are helping me out. We collected PPE samples from hospitals and replicated the same. We included certain modifications such as covering the neck loop, chain, elastic and zip, wherever needed,” Oswal said.
However, Dr Pavan’s PPE requires the final ISO certification from an institution in Tamil Nadu, and some North Karnataka leaders are assisting the team in getting it. He’s in the process of applying for the certification.