Centre bars hospitals from reusing single-use medical devices after sterilisation

The Directorate General of Health Services issued a letter dated October 16 to hospitals across the country. It noted that some private and corporate hospitals had been sterilising and reusing single-use devices in fields such as cardiology, nephrology, oncology, cardiothoracic and vascular surgery, and neurosurgery. The agency warned that such reuse could lead to cross-infection, device malfunction, reduced performance, and other complications for patients. Based on these concerns, the Centre has prohibited the practice. The directive applies to hospitals nationwide.