Markets OverviewThe global transition to safe, simple injections
More than 1.3 million people die each year from unsafe injection practices according to the World Health Organization. Potential routes of transmission of bloodborne pathogens such as HIV and hepatitis C include needlestick injuries and the reuse, sharing or unsafe disposal of non-sterile syringes.
Healthcare and pharmaceutical markets across the world are now transitioning to the mandatory use of safety syringes to help protect those at risk of infection from needlestick injuries and other unsafe injection practices.
The U.S was the first country to adopt and actively enforce legislation requiring healthcare facilities to use safety syringes, with the passage of the Federal Needlestick Prevention Act in 2000. Other healthcare markets including Canada and the European Union are now following the U.S towards the mandatory protection of healthcare workers from needlestick injury.
Despite the adoption and enforcement of laws mandating the use of needlestick prevention equipment, healthcare and pharmaceutical markets continue to experience challenges in the identification of suitable products with the safety and functionality features required to fully protect those at risk of harm from unsafe injection practices.
Sectors of the healthcare market where Unilife has identified unmet demand for safety syringes which meet their specific infection safety requirements include:
