Islamabad (Web Desk): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has ordered a nationwide crackdown on the production and use of substandard syringes as part of efforts to contain the spread of infectious diseases, particularly HIV and Hepatitis C.
Chairing a high-level meeting in Islamabad to review measures aimed at preventing the transmission of HIV and Hepatitis C, the prime minister directed the authorities to enforce a complete ban on the manufacture and use of low-quality syringes across the country.
He also instructed officials to initiate strict legal action against individuals, healthcare facilities, and hospitals found using unauthorized syringes or displaying criminal negligence in preventing their use.
To strengthen disease control efforts, Shehbaz Sharif ordered the establishment of a committee comprising medical and public health experts to propose practical recommendations for tackling communicable diseases.
He stressed that the committee should work closely with provincial governments before finalizing its proposals.
The prime minister further directed the Ministry of Law, in coordination with relevant institutions, to draft amendments to the existing legal and regulatory framework where required. He underscored that a comprehensive national strategy, backed by effective implementation, is essential to overcoming the challenge of infectious diseases.
Additionally, Shehbaz Sharif instructed the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) to engage with manufacturers of medical devices and formulate policy recommendations aimed at permanently eliminating the risk of disease transmission through syringes.