Behind the Scenes: 5 Surprising Facts About Medical Product Manufacturing

Medical products and medical devices are a growing part of the healthcare field. Doctors and hospitals would be lost without their use of these products. Given the reliance on these types of technologies, it’s surprising that more isn’t known about them. Here are some of the facts about medical product manufacturing that may give you pause.

Most Stem from the US

Many of the companies that produce these medical products are based in the US with another portion based in Western Europe. This growing industry brings in approximately 400 billion dollars each year. Medical technology encompasses all aspects of the healthcare field. It’s also one of the fastest growing industries in all of healthcare.

Healthcare Is Reliant on Technology

The healthcare industry has become heavily reliant on technology. This can be seen through the use of medical product kitting. These kits are prepackaged by the manufacturer to make the diagnosis of patients easier at doctors’ offices and in hospitals. Technology has helped to remove the human error factor out of the equation.

Rigorous Process for Approval

There is a rigorous process that is required to gain approval for medical products to enter the marketplace in the US and Europe. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is largely responsible for regulating medical products and devices within the US. This ensures that only the safest products can be used on you as the patient. Years of study and research data are required before a product is given final approval.

Labeling Is Crucial Component

How a product is labeled is determined by the manufacturer. A large majority of medical products and devices are labeled as single use. This is because of the studies that are required in sustainability due to the repeated cleanings that would be required by the FDA for multi-use products.

Marketing Lacks FDA Review Standards

The advertising for medical products is not reviewed or approved by the FDA. This means that devices can be marketed in whatever fashion that the manufacturer thinks is appropriate. It’s up to the doctors, hospitals, and other end users to determine if the product is effective for the means that it was advertised.

The future of the healthcare industry is dependent on the resources that it utilizes. This can mean a lot of things for the direction that medical products will play in revolutionizing patient treatment options. The FDA is struggling to keep up with all the advancements and place regulations on their safe uses.