The healthcare sector is rapidly evolving with technological advancements. Many innovations capture headlines, but some critical components often remain under the radar. One such element is medical refrigeration, a vital aspect of healthcare infrastructure that ensures the efficacy, safety, and availability of medical products, particularly in challenging environments.
Shrikant Subramaniam, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Commercial Refrigeration Products and Solutions at Blue Star, sheds light on how advancements in this field are shaping the future of healthcare. His insights laid the importance of reliable refrigeration in maintaining the integrity of medical supplies, especially in the wake of global health crises like the COVID-19 pandemic.
"The proper refrigeration is crucial for maintaining the efficacy, efficiency, and safety of medical products, and innovations in this field are paving the way for more reliable healthcare solutions,” he added.
Pillar of Blue Star:
Blue Star, a household name in India, stands tall as the nation's largest air conditioning and refrigerator company. With over 80 years of rich heritage, Blue Star has established itself as a leader in engineering, electrical, plumbing, and firefighting solutions. The company's vast network includes more than 30 offices, 3,000 employees, 4,000 channel partners, and over 1,250 service centres across India. Last year, Blue Star achieved a remarkable turnover of ₹9,700 crores (approximately $1.1 billion), a testament to its market dominance and commitment to quality.
Innovations in Medical Refrigeration:
Blue Star's portfolio in medical refrigeration is extensive, covering a wide range of products designed to meet the stringent requirements of modern healthcare. From ultra-low temperature freezers to pharmacy refrigerators, Blue Star offers solutions across multiple temperature points, ensuring that medical products, whether vaccines, blood, or pharmaceuticals, are stored under optimal conditions.
All Blue Star medical refrigeration products adhere to international standards, including ISO and CE certifications, and are accredited by globally recognised bodies like TUV, SDS, Intertek, Eurofins, and the WHO. This commitment to quality and safety is crucial as the demand for reliable medical storage solutions continues to rise, driven by the increasing need for vaccines and other temperature-sensitive medical supplies.
Supporting the Pandemic:
Subramanian disclosed that during the COVID-19 pandemic, Blue Star played a pivotal role in ensuring the safe storage and distribution of vaccines, particularly in remote areas. The company introduced ice-line refrigerators, which maintain temperatures between 2 and 8 degrees Celsius for over 20 hours without power, utilising PCM (phase change material) technology.
Additionally, Blue Star developed flexible vaccine transporters, which could be charged using car batteries, facilitating vaccination programs in the most challenging environments. These innovations underscore Blue Star’s dedication to addressing urgent healthcare needs through practical and effective solutions.
“The pandemic required us to get into the business of ice-line refrigerators, which played a critical role in vaccines being distributed at the last mile, especially at remote locations," he added.
Cold Storage and Expanding Beyond:
Talking about the expansion, Subramanian informed me that beyond medical refrigeration, Blue Star offers modular cold storage solutions, which have become increasingly important as the healthcare industry grapples with rising demand for large-scale storage. Blue Star's cold storage units are eco-friendly, featuring green foaming agents like cyclopentane and energy-efficient components. These units played a significant role during the pandemic, especially in the storage and handling of medical supplies and vaccines.
Subramaniam’s presentation highlighted Blue Star’s unwavering commitment to innovation and quality in the field of medical refrigeration at the BW Healthcare 40 under 40 Summit and Awards. As the healthcare industry continues to evolve, the importance of reliable refrigeration solutions cannot be overstated. Blue Star’s contributions are not just about maintaining the status quo but about pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in medical storage, ensuring that healthcare providers have the tools they need to save lives and improve patient outcomes.
“In a world where the reliability of healthcare systems is more crucial than ever, Blue Star’s innovations in medical refrigeration stand out as a beacon of excellence and dedication to the well-being of communities across the globe," he concluded.
