Medical consumables are the items a clinic, ward or care home uses every day: syringes, needles, IV cannulas, catheters, patient care products and general clinical supplies. They are rarely the most expensive line on a budget individually, but running out of them stops work. This guide explains how to plan consumable orders, what common specifications mean and how to order from Medlive. It is general purchasing guidance only; device selection for individual patients should follow the clinician’s judgement, your facility’s protocols and the manufacturer’s instructions for use.
1. Plan by usage, not by habit
Good consumable buying starts with usage data. Record how many of each item you use per week or month, note seasonal peaks, and set a reorder level that covers your normal lead time. Agree a standard product list with clinical staff so that wards order the same items, which makes stock control and training simpler. Check expiry dates and storage conditions, and rotate stock so that older items are used first.
2. Syringes and needles
For Syringes & Needles, the key specifications are:
- Syringe volume, usually in millilitres, and the tip type, such as Luer slip or Luer lock.
- Needle gauge and length: a higher gauge number means a thinner needle. Length is usually given in millimetres or inches.
- Safety features: some products include safety-engineered mechanisms. Check your facility’s policy on their use.
- Pack quantity and sterility: confirm units per box and that items are individually packed and sterile.
Plan sharps disposal alongside your syringe and needle orders, following your facility’s waste procedures.
3. IV, catheters and tubes
IV, Catheters & Tubes includes IV cannulas, giving sets, urinary catheters, drainage bags and feeding tubes, for example the Jelco IV Cannula 18G Box 50 and Urine Leg Bag 750ml with Tap. When comparing:
- IV cannulas are specified by gauge. Stock the range of gauges your clinicians use and confirm the box quantity.
- Catheters and tubes are often sized in French or Charrière units, along with length and material. Confirm the size and type with the clinical team before ordering in volume.
- Drainage bags differ in capacity, outlet tap and whether they are leg bags or bedside bags.
Check that connectors are compatible with the other devices you use.
4. Incontinence and patient care
Incontinence & Patient Care covers products such as adult briefs, underpads, patient identification and personal care items, for example ID Wristbands – Pack of 100. For incontinence products, absorbency level and sizing are the main decisions, and a poor fit increases leaks and usage. For ID wristbands, check the size range, how information is written or printed, and whether colour coding matches your facility’s system.
5. Pharmacy, clinical consumables, accessories and batteries
Pharmacy & Clinical Consumables includes everyday items such as couch roll, specimen containers, swabs and covers, for example the Disposable Fitted Table Cover (Pack of 10). Compare the cost per unit and the pack size against your usage.
Accessories & Batteries keeps your devices working. Always check the device model, part number and battery specification against the manufacturer’s information before ordering, as similar-looking accessories are often not interchangeable.
6. Mistakes to avoid
- Ordering by description alone without checking gauge, size, volume or pack quantity.
- Switching products without telling the clinical staff who use them.
- Buying large quantities of items that will expire before they are used.
- Choosing accessories or batteries without confirming compatibility with the device model.
- Comparing prices per box when pack quantities differ.
The clinic supplies checklist can help you build a standard list. If you know the exact items you need, the quick order page lets you enter products in one step.
7. How to order from Medlive
Browse the full Medical Consumables department. Customers in South Africa see verified ZAR prices including VAT on eligible products and can add them to the cart. Customers in other African countries see “Price on request (USD)” and can request a quotation; see ordering medical supplies outside South Africa for how that works. Freight is confirmed for each order, and payment is by EFT once the final total has been confirmed in writing.
Hospitals, clinics, care homes and NGOs ordering regularly can use bulk orders for volume pricing on quotation, and procurement teams responding to a formal requirement can submit a tender enquiry. For help matching your current product list, contact us.
