Islamabad: The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan has ordered strict enforcement of the ban on reused syringes to help control the increasing number of HIV cases in the country.
According to federal officials, 2,108 HIV cases have been reported among children in Pakistan over the past 15 months, prompting DRAP to initiate a nationwide market survey against banned syringes to identify violations.
Officials further stated that traditional disposable syringes of 2 ml and 5 ml remain banned in Pakistan, while a complete ban on their import and local manufacturing has been in place since July 31, 2021, to curb unsafe medical practices.
Moreover, authorities have also begun considering a ban on 10 ml syringes due to their potential misuse, aiming to reduce risks to public health.
According to officials, DRAP’s national task force has been assigned the responsibility of conducting a countrywide survey and identifying violations to ensure effective enforcement against illegal practices.
