Giving women twin protection against unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has introduced female condoms in the basket of contraceptive choices offered at government healthcare facilities. The new latex-based condoms, Velvet, are designed and developed by the scientists of Thiruvananthapuram-based Research and Development Centre of HLL Lifecare Ltd.
“The introduction of this product seeks to expand the basket of contraceptive choices, reduce unwanted pregnancies and provide quality healthcare products at an affordable cost,” a health ministry official told The Sunday Standard. Stating that the product was a game-changer in public healthcare sector, the official said, “It will go a long way in meeting contraceptive needs and check the burgeoning population of the country.”
With a shelf life of five years, Velvet recently obtained
WHO’s pre-qualification, making it eligible for institutional procurement under the donor-funded programmes. The product was cleared by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) last year.
HLL has filed an Indian patent for the product in Brazil, South Africa and ARIPO (African Regional Intellectual Property Organisation) countries. “Being the most affordable female condom in the world, we will be the prime supplier of the product to UNFPA,” M Ayyappan, CMD, HLL Lifecare Ltd said.