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HLL Lifecare Limited, a Mini Ratna Public Sector Enterprise operating under the ministry of health and family welfare, has announced an impressive annual condom production of 221.7 crore units, solidifying its position as one of the world's largest manufacturers of contraceptives.
This significant output underscores the company's vital role in India's ongoing family welfare programs and its commitment to providing accessible healthcare solutions.
N. Ajit, director (marketing) of HLL, elaborated on the company's extensive manufacturing network, revealing that out of HLL's eight factories nationwide, five are dedicated to producing contraceptive products. The Peroorkada facility at Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala leads the production with 124.6 crore condoms annually. Other key manufacturing hubs for contraceptives include Kanagala (Karnataka), producing 37 crore condoms, 98 lakh oral contraceptive pills (OCPs), 12.5 crore non-steroidal OCPs, and 1.87 crore emergency contraceptive pills.
Further contributing to the substantial output are HLL's other Kerala-based factories. The Kakkanad facility specializes in male and female condoms, producing 30 crore and 2.5 crore units respectively each year. The Airapuram (Kerala) factory adds another 27.6 crore condoms annually to the company's total. Beyond condoms, the Aakkulam (Kerala) factory in Kerala plays a crucial role in manufacturing other contraceptive devices, annually producing 55 lakh copper-Ts and 25 lakh tubal rings.
The announcement also highlighted HLL's enduring legacy in public health, with data released on the last World AIDS Day indicating that the company has manufactured and distributed over 5,500 crore condoms in the past six decades. The director emphasized the pivotal role played by both Kerala and HLL in India's success in population control, noting the company's proactive approach in introducing new contraceptive products to the country. He reminisced about the early days when HLL's 'Nirodh' brand was synonymous with condoms across India, rapidly evolving to become a global leader in contraceptive manufacturing.
Kerala's historical commitment to national family welfare programs was also brought to the forefront. Ajit explained that the central government, concerned by rapid population growth in the late 1950s, launched the National Family Welfare Programme. The "Small family, happy family" campaign gained widespread attention. With the high cost of imported condoms, the government decided to establish domestic manufacturing. Given Kerala's abundant rubber and latex resources, HLL was strategically established in Thiruvananthapuram in 1966 under the Union ministry of health and family welfare.
While primarily recognized for its contraceptive production, HLL Lifecare Limited's operations extend beyond this vital sector. The company's Manesar Factory in Gurgaon, Haryana, is dedicated to rapid in-vitro diagnostic test kits, showcasing HLL's diverse contributions to healthcare. Additionally, the Pharma Factory in Indore in Madhya Pradesh, produces a wide array of pharmaceutical products, further broadening HLL's impact on public health.
Completing its comprehensive healthcare portfolio, HLL also operates the Bhagwanpur Factory in Haridwar, Uttarakhand, which functions as a dedicated Ayush facility. This unit is instrumental in manufacturing and supplying ayurvedic and Unani medicines, reinforcing HLL's commitment to holistic healthcare solutions. Headquartered in Thiruvananthapuram, HLL Lifecare Limited continues its mission to deliver innovative and affordable healthcare products as a key public sector enterprise of the Government of India.
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