PPA Applauds DRAP’s Efforts for Uninterrupted Medical Device Supply

Islamabad: The Pakistan Pharmacists Association (PPA) has lauded the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) for its ongoing initiatives to maintain an uninterrupted supply of medical devices, which are crucial for healthcare delivery, particularly in disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.

The PPA recognizes DRAP’s substantial efforts to improve the medical device supply chain and streamline the registration process. Recent steps taken by DRAP have garnered significant appreciation from the PPA, including:

1. Increased Meetings for Clearances: The Medical Devices Board has held nine meetings in recent months, clearing approximately 5,000 pending applications, ensuring smoother operations for the medical device industry.

2. Efficient Customs Clearance: DRAP facilitated the clearance of pending medical device consignments at customs ports, preventing potential market shortages by following the proper procedures under Rule 26 of the Medical Devices Rules.

3. Simplified Registration for Low-Risk Devices: DRAP has eased the registration process for low-risk medical devices, making it more accessible for the industry to list such products.

4. Electronic System Rollout: DRAP is set to implement an electronic system within the next few weeks that will streamline the registration process and enhance transparency, reducing delays and ensuring faster service for applicants.

The PPA fully acknowledges the leadership of DRAP for these decisive actions, which have helped ensure a smooth supply of medical devices across Pakistan, despite the country’s reliance on imports. These steps are critical in ensuring healthcare providers have access to the necessary tools for effective care delivery.

However, the PPA has expressed strong disapproval of recent claims from certain groups suggesting a medical device shortage and accusing DRAP of inaction. The PPA deems these claims as baseless and potentially driven by ulterior motives, aiming to pressure DRAP into extending registration deadlines, which could compromise patient safety and product quality.

In its statement, the PPA urged DRAP not to yield to these pressures and extend the registration period for medical devices, as it could harm the quality control of medical devices in Pakistan. The PPA emphasized that granting such extensions would be unfair to those already complying with legal requirements and could undermine the credibility of the medical device market.

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Additionally, the PPA urged DRAP to expedite the processing of pending registration applications to ensure that high-quality medical devices are available to meet the healthcare needs of the nation. The PPA also called for a crackdown on unregistered medical devices by Provincial Drug Control Administrations to protect public health.

The PPA reaffirmed its commitment to collaborating with DRAP to ensure the continued availability of safe and effective medical devices for the people of Pakistan.