Federal health authorities have moved to tighten controls on injection safety across the country, ordering strict nationwide enforcement against conventional disposable syringes and initiating a policy review aimed at shifting toward safer alternatives. The decision comes amid renewed concern that unsafe injection practices remain a major contributor to the spread of HIV and other blood-borne infections in Pakistan.
The development was made during a high-level meeting held at the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP), chaired by Director General Health Dr Abdul Wali Khan. The meeting brought together senior officials from the health ministry, representatives of the World Health Organization (WHO) Pakistan, UNICEF, DRAP leadership, and experts from major medical institutions including Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) and National Institute of Health Islamabad (NIH).
Participants reviewed the rising burden of HIV infections in both children and adults, with officials expressing particular concern over unsafe injection practices, reuse of syringes, and gaps in infection prevention and control standards in both formal and informal healthcare settings.
Health experts briefed the meeting that a significant proportion of HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C cases in Pakistan are linked to unsafe medical injections and the reuse of syringes. The widespread and often unnecessary use of injections in routine treatment was also highlighted as a key risk factor fueling transmission.
A major focus of the discussion was the continued circulation of conventional disposable syringes, which, despite being officially banned, are still reportedly used in parts of the healthcare system, particularly in unregulated markets. Officials warned that weak enforcement has allowed unsafe products to persist, undermining national efforts to control infectious diseases.
In response, the federal health ministry decided to form a specialized sub-committee of experts to evaluate whether conventional syringes should be fully phased out and replaced with auto-disable or auto-destruct syringes. These safer alternatives are designed to prevent reuse, thereby significantly reducing the risk of infection transmission.
Alongside the policy review, DRAP has intensified enforcement measures. The authority has directed its Division of Quality Assurance and Laboratory Testing, along with the National Task Force on spurious and substandard products, to carry out a nationwide market survey to identify illegal and non-compliant syringe products still in circulation.
Officials reiterated that DRAP had already imposed a complete ban on the import and manufacture of conventional disposable syringes effective July 31, 2021, and cancelled all related product registrations. However, continued availability in certain segments of the market has raised concerns among regulators and public health experts.
Provincial drug control authorities have been instructed to take strict legal and regulatory action against violators. A comprehensive report detailing enforcement activities and market findings has been requested by April 27.
Health officials emphasized that the crackdown is aimed at eliminating one of the major drivers of blood-borne infections in the country and improving overall patient safety standards.
Experts also noted that Pakistan remains among the highest users of therapeutic injections globally, with millions administered daily, many of which are medically unnecessary. They stressed that overuse of injections, combined with unsafe practices, continues to pose a serious public health challenge.
