A urinary catheter assembly including a urinary catheter having on at least a part of its surface a hydrophilic surface layer intended to produce a low-friction surface character of the catheter by treatment with a liquid swelling medium during manufacture of the catheter assembly, and a catheter package having a cavity for accommodation of the catheter. The package includes a compartment having walls of a gas impermeable material and accommodating the liquid swelling medium and a catheter pretreated therewith for long time preservation of the low-friction surface character and provision of a ready-to-use catheter assembly.

A urinary catheter assembly comprises a urinary catheter (1) having on at least a part of its surface a hydrophilic surface layer (6) intended to produce a low-friction surface character of the catheter by treatment with a liquid swelling medium prior to use of the catheter and a catheter package (7) having a cavity (11) for accommodation of the catheter (1). The package (7) is made with walls of a gas impermeable material to accommodate a catheter pretreated with said liquid swelling medium for long time preservation of said low-friction surface character and provision of a ready-to-use catheter assembly.