The federal government has decided to ban conventional disposable syringes nationwide to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases caused by syringe reuse. According to the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP), the manufacture, import, and sale of conventional disposable syringes will become illegal after December 31, 2026. From January 1, 2027, only safety-engineered auto-disable (auto-lock) syringes will be permitted in the market.
Policy Details and Implementation
DRAP stated that the decision was made on the directives of the prime minister to strengthen infection control measures and reduce the risk of disease transmission associated with syringe reuse. Conventional syringes will be replaced with auto-lock safety syringes designed to prevent reuse, a key factor in limiting blood-borne infections. The regulatory authority has issued formal notifications to syringe manufacturers and importers, while the DRAP Medical Devices Board has approved the ban.
Exceptions and Tracking System
However, conventional 10cc syringes will remain available under restricted conditions for use in secondary and tertiary care public and private hospitals where required for specific medical procedures. To regulate their limited use, DRAP will establish a digital tracking portal through which hospitals must upload data on procurement and use of conventional syringes to ensure regulatory oversight and traceability.
Quality Concerns on Auto-Disable Syringes
Earlier, DRAP had declared several batches of auto-disable syringes manufactured by six companies as substandard and issued a medical product alert. The authority said certain 3ml and 5ml auto-disable syringes failed to meet required quality standards following testing by the Central Drugs Laboratory in Karachi. Tests found that sampled batches from companies based in China, Egypt, Punjab, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa did not comply with auto-disable functionality requirements.
