Hospira Canada is taking a leadership role by eliminating DEHP – a plasticizer commonly used in the manufacture of flexible intravenous lines and similar hospital products – from its product portfolio.

Hospira began introducing non-DEHP sets a number of years ago; upon completion of the Non-DEHP Transition project, Hospira will be the first company in Canada whose IV gravity and pump administration sets are 100% non-DEHP.

“This transition to non-DEHP illustrates how Hospira is advancing wellness by offering a portfolio of products that is focused on patient safety while being environmentally responsible,” said Gerry Stefanatos, Vice President, Hospira Canada and Latin America. “We are committed to supporting our customers and ensuring a smooth transition.”

Background on DEHP

Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, or DEHP, is a plasticizer or softener commonly used in the manufacture of medical products such as IV sets that are used to administer medications and solutions. The use of DEHP in medical products has been an industry standard for more than 40 years due to its compatibility with a variety of medications, as well as its flexibility, cost-effectiveness, transparency and ease of sterilization; however, DEHP can potentially leach from medical devices and may represent a health hazard for some patients.

Health Canada published a draft position paper in 2002 on DEHP in medical devices that recommended restricting the use of DEHP in certain groups of patients.¹  Hospira's ongoing transition to non-DEHP will help hospitals align with these recommendations by providing non-DEHP medication delivery sets designed for use with neonates, options for use with blood and for drugs and solutions that contain lipids (oils or fats) – all of which are addressed in the Health Canada recommendation.

In addition, DEHP raises environmental concerns because it can be released into the environment during production, distribution and incorporation into PVC.

Transition Timing

The transition to non-DEHP products began in June 2010 and is about 95% complete. The non-DEHP Transition should be completed in 2012. Customers should note that it will not be possible to order non-DEHP products from Hospira once the corresponding non-DEHP product has become available.

For more information

For more complete information and assistance during the Transition process, customers are invited to contact their Hospira Sales Representative or Hospira Clinical Support at 1-866-488-6088, option 4 or email to mail-ClinSupport@hospira.com.