Health Minister Orders Strict Action Against Selling Banned Syringes

Dr. Nadeem Jan, the Caretaker Minister for Health, has taken cognizance of the illicit sale of unregistered and prohibited disposable syringes nationwide.

The minister has instructed relevant authorities to take immediate action against the production, importation, and sale of banned conventional disposable syringes. Additionally, he has mandated the seizure of existing stock and urged the initiation of legal proceedings against those responsible.

The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) has issued directives to field offices and provincial health departments in response to this concern. Dr. Nadeem Jan emphasized that the repeated use of traditional syringes poses significant health risks, including the potential transmission of diseases such as hepatitis and AIDS.

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Furthermore, the minister disclosed that a national task force is actively conducting raids across the country to suppress the usage of such syringes. He highlighted the implementation of a coordinated strategy aimed at halting the distribution of unregistered medicines nationwide.

It is noteworthy that a December 2022 report from the US Centre for Disease Analysis (CDA) revealed alarming statistics regarding the prevalence of hepatitis C patients in Pakistan. The report identified Pakistan as having the highest number of hepatitis C patients globally, surpassing countries like China, India, and Nigeria. The reuse of needles and syringes was identified as a primary factor contributing to the spread of hepatitis C in Pakistan.