PVC products have been used in healthcare and have proven records of almost 50 years. It is estimated that of the one million tonnes of plastics used in healthcare products, PVC has a share of almost 25-26%.

PVC is essentially used in medical disposables such as catheters, blood and intravenous transfusion sets, dialysis sets, incontinence products and gloves. These products use almost 50% of all the plastics used in healthcare. PVC, however, is not considered to be suitable for long-term medical applications like implants.

DOP, a plasticizer used in PVC, has been extensively studied for toxicology and has been found to be non-toxic. Besides, DOP is considered to provide an advantage in platelet formation.

Of late, DOP or other Phthalates have come under a cloud for health concerns, which include their influence in liver cancers and an adverse effect on reproductive organs, hindering their activity. However, extensive studies have so far not provided any conclusive evidence on the adverse effects of DOP or phthalates in human beings.

Other plasticizers like Citrates, Trimellitates or Polymeric Adipate plasticizers have been used to replace DOP, of course at much higher costs. The alternate polymers like Metallocene Polyolefins are being evaluated, but they have to prove their superiority in performance and show enhanced biocompatibility at equivalent or lower costs, compared to PVC which has a proven record for the last 50 years.

A new book "The Role of PVC in Healthcare" published by RAPRA publications in 2001 discusses the significant technical issues that indicate that PVC will continue to play a major role in healthcare.