ISLAMABAD: The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) has directed its field staff to take action against smuggled medical devices.

A letter, signed by Deputy Director Mohammad Ansar and available with Dawn, stated that DRAP had been receiving complaints from the stakeholder regarding the availability of unregistered/smuggled medical devices including cannulas, syringes, etc., in the open market.

“While there are no estimates of the overall quantities of medical products that are smuggled or trafficked in different ways in the country, reports are related to different geographical coverage and different products throughout Pakistan,” it stated.

The letter further unfolded that the unregistered or unlicensed medical products have not undergone evaluation or approval by DRAP; hence, the safety of these products cannot be guaranteed and can pose serious harm to the patients. Field staff under National Task Force is, therefore, directed to increase active surveillance across the country and take strict action under the law, against the culprits involved in the sales, storage and distribution of smuggled or unregistered products as mentioned in the subject.

The field staff has been directed to submit a report in this regard by Friday (today).

Published in Dawn, August 11th, 2023