The federal government has decided to impose a nationwide ban on conventional (manual) syringes in a major move aimed at preventing syringe reuse and reducing the spread of infectious diseases, sources told 24NewsHD TV on Sunday.
According to sources, the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) has completed the groundwork for the ban following directives from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
The decision comes after extensive consultations with relevant stakeholders.
The ban will apply to all conventional syringes ranging from 1 cc to 10 cc, covering their import, manufacture, sale, and use across the country.
Sources said the government will withdraw its July 1 notification, which had imposed restrictions only on 3cc and 10cc conventional syringes, replacing it with a comprehensive ban on all manual syringes within the specified size range.
The exemption previously granted to selected public and private hospitals for the use of 10cc manual syringes will also be withdrawn under the new policy.
However, the ban will not apply to insulin syringes, sources clarified.
Officials said the decision was taken to discourage the unsafe reuse of syringes, a major cause of the transmission of blood-borne diseases such as hepatitis and HIV.
Sources further revealed that the DRAP Medical Devices Board has already approved the proposal to ban conventional manual syringes.
The government is expected to issue a formal notification after completing the remaining procedural requirements.
Reporter: Babar Shehzad Turk