The invention provides a method for the manufacture of a catheter comprising a hydrophilic gel. The method comprising the steps of combining a polymeric photoinitiator of the general formula (I): R1(A1)r-(R2(A2)m-O)o—(R3(A3)n-O)p—R4(A4)s  (I) with one or more gel-forming polymers and/or gel-forming monomers to form a matrix composition, curing the matrix composition by exposing it to UV radiation, exposing the matrix composition to a swelling medium and incorporating the hydrophilic gel into a catheter. The invention also provides autocuring of the polymeric photoinitiator (I) to provide a gel precursor, a hydrophilic gel and a catheter comprising or coated with the hydrophilic gel of the invention.