Students design shirts to ease dialysis for patients

A team of university students in Malaysia created Aperta Libre, a long-sleeved shirt with a zipper that allows medical staff to access dialysis ports without requiring patients to fully expose their arms.

The students, part of the Youth Leadership Academy 2026, initially planned to create a stoma bag but changed course after medical professionals indicated it wasn’t needed.

They then spoke with dialysis patients who described discomfort with fully exposing their arms during treatment, especially for those who prefer to maintain modesty or are sensitive to cold temperatures. The Aperta team. Teo Yan Khai, Anna Natasha, Navena Arumugam, Loi Yong Xiang, and Natalie Ho, designed the shirt to address this need, and they sell it for RM55. They observed that some patients already modify their own clothing to create easier access for medical staff.

Nurses and patients have responded positively to the shirts, with one patient embracing the design so much she offered to promote it to others. The students are now planning to expand their designs to accommodate patients who use central venous catheters and PICC lines. They also intend to partner with sewing services that employ women from lower-income families, broadening the social impact of their work.

The team learned that successfully addressing a need requires listening to feedback and being willing to abandon initial ideas.