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Hospitals

Medical gases and hygiene
In 2002, Air Liquide continued to follow its pharmaceutical
strategy for medical gases, which are classified as medicine in a growing number of countries, while also researching new therapeutic applications for gases and marketing new products. For example, marketing licenses were obtained in late 2001, early 2002 in France for Kalinox (management of pain caused by brief medical procedures) and Kinox (treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension). Air Liquide is also developing a number of services to ensure that gases are continuously
available to patients, either at the bedside or operating
table. As always, the Group is seeking to do so under optimum
conditions of safety and quality. These services include maintenance of installations and cylinder stock management. Training is also provided for caregivers.
Hygiene is the second critical area of Air Liquide’s offer to hospitals. The objective? To combat nosocomial infections, which are contracted during a stay in the hospital. This is currently a major concern for hospitals.
They are demanding new solutions to guarantee hygiene for hands, surfaces, instruments and the air. Air Liquide is Europe’s market leader in hospital disinfection, supported by its specialized subsidiaries Anios, Schülke & Mayr, Seppic, and Omasa.

• Instrument sterilisation

The sterilization of instruments used in a hospital environment is key to combating nosocomial infections. One of the latest products to be launched by Air Liquide, Anioxide 1000 is an endoscope disinfection product developed by its Anios subsidiary, to great acclaim in France in 2002. It is currently being marketed in other European countries. Another key point is the growing trend for hospitals to outsource sterilization of their instruments. This is a market in which Omasa, Air Liquide’s Italian subsidiary, can excel. Just one year after it joined the Group, Omasa’s sales are up 30%.


• Homecare

In 2002, Air Liquide treated more than 250,000 patients worldwide in their own homes for respiratory insuffi-ciency, sleep apnea syndrome, diabetes, and other medical disorders. Due to several factors, there is an increasing demand for homecare services in many countries. Examples include: continuous medical advances, pressure to reduce healthcare costs and increased life expectancy. Principally through VitalAire and Orkyn’, Air Liquide’s homecare business is growing by approximately 8% per year. It consists mostly of respiratory assistance services (oxygen therapy, treatment for sleep apnea syndrome, ventilation, or aerosoltherapy). The Group’s offer covers not only the supply of oxygen and specialized equip-ment, but also a number of other services: flexible and rapid emergency service available 24/7, administration management, patient and family training - all in close collaboration with medical teams and reimbursement institutions. Increasingly, the Group’s offer is extending to incorpo-rate new services, such as perfusion, enteral nutrition (via the esophagus or abdominal wall) or parenteral nutrition (intravenous), and also providing insulin pumps for treating diabetes. The driving objective is to provide patients with quality services.