Locally developed perforated coco patch “Vermac” may soon be available in the international market, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has disclosed.
DOST Secretary Fortunato “Boy” T. de la Peña said Marinina-based PatchMed Cosmetic Trading, the manufacturer of the innovative coconut-based wound dressing, is eyeing to export its perforated coco patch to Kuwait and India.
"Patchmed is exploring export opportunities with Kuwait and India for the perforated Coco Patch,” he said during his weekly report on April 23, Friday.
He noted that Patchmed’s coco patch, a natural wound dressing made from coco-cellulose fiber, “has proven effective through medical tests as an alternative to other wound dressings in the market.”
"The innovation in the coco patch, particularly the perforated design is intended to facilitate better moisture balance and more effective debridement (removal of necrotic debris and devitalize tissue from the wound),” the DOST chief said.
He said the product branded as Vermac, is supplied to hospitals and wound care clinics, well-known humanitarian organizations and through online market.
De la Peña cited that over the years, the skin and wound care product manufacturer that evolved from Chicano’s Nata de Coco has come up with new technologies for consumer skin protection and wound care.
These include coco-cellulose material, anti-bacterial spray gel, coco-cellulose bandage, as well as its recent innovation derived from coco patch, the perforated coco patch which prevents infection especially for diabetic wound complication.
He recalled that in 2012, the DOST-National Capital Region (NCR) through the Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP) provided autoclave and vacuum sealer to Patchmed to manufacture sterile intermediate and final product.
He said in March this year, the firm "availed its second cycle SETUP assistance where a laser cutting machine will be acquired for faster production of the perforated coco patch branded as Vermac (4 pieces/hour to 250 pieces/hour).”
"Cocopatch has won several awards such as UP-PGH Recognition, Tatak PGH Nurse Innovator Award, Most Promising Intellectual Property Award by Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Philippine Green Innovation Product 2014 and National Winner for the Creative Research Category during the 2014 National Invention Contest and Exhibits,” he cited.