ISLAMABAD: Amid reports of sales of traditional syringes across the country, the health ministry on Tuesday directed the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (Drap) to step up efforts against sellers and industrial manufacturing units for banning syringes.
According to the Ministry of Health, the directive was issued in the best interest of the public as traditional syringes are a potential cause of infectious diseases such as hepatitis and HIV. “Drap has been directed to launch a nationwide campaign against the sale/stocking and distribution of such banned/conventional unregistered syringes in accordance with relevant laws to protect the public from harmful effects.”
Drap CEO Dr Asim Rauf told Dawn that authorities had received reports that some industrial units were still producing conventional syringes.
“We (recently) sealed two units in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for six months and took legal action against them. Regulations have been stepped up and action will be taken against those involved in the manufacturing and sale of these products. Strict action.”
CEO says two manufacturing units of KP have been sealed and legal action is being taken
In response to questions, he said that the prices of self-destructing syringes and traditional syringes are almost the same, but in some peripheral and rural areas, people prefer to use traditional syringes because they can be reused. “We are also considering a campaign to raise awareness among the general public to discourage them from using traditional syringes,” Dr Lauf said.
It is worth mentioning that the decision to stop using traditional syringes was taken after the HIV outbreak in Larkana in 2019. Currently, more than a dozen companies are producing self-defeating syringes, three of which have been approved for import.
It is worth mentioning that in May 2019, there was an HIV epidemic in Larkana (Latodero). More than a thousand people, including children, were found positive, forcing the government to ask the World Health Organization (WHO) to investigate the matter.
At the time, Dr. Zafar Mirza, then special assistant to the prime minister on health, told reporters that 95% of injections in Pakistan were unnecessary. “It has been decided to take a series of other measures to ensure that the disease does not spread. From next year, self-destructing syringes will be used across the country and this problem will be solved. Blood transfusion safety will be guaranteed. We will also The hospital introduces an infection prevention program. “
“Injection Safety Task Force”
An injection safety working group was also established and a national action plan was launched in December 2019 and shared with provinces, said a health ministry official who spoke on condition of anonymity.
It is also recommended that the use of traditional plastic syringes be banned to control the spread of blood-borne diseases such as AIDS, HIV and hepatitis C. He said the main objectives were achieved through radio, broadcast, print and digital media.
“Now conventional syringes cannot be produced or sold in the market. Importers and local manufacturers were given a timetable for conversion. To incentivize local manufacturers to switch to self-defeating syringes, they were granted exemption from customs duties and sales tax,” he added road.
“Unfortunately, due to the reuse of single-use syringes, people become infected with hepatitis C, which ultimately leads to cirrhosis of the liver and entire families suffer mentally and financially,” he said.
“Self-destructing syringes cannot be used again after a single use. Once the syringe has been used, the plunger is locked. Any attempt to unlock the plunger will destroy the syringe, thereby preventing reuse of the syringe. Unfortunately, if the syringe is contaminated Plastic syringes are not disposed of and reused for other patients, and they can spread blood-borne diseases and lead to outbreaks, like the HIV outbreak in Larkana in 2019,” he said.
Published at Dawn on November 15, 2023