Healthcare stakeholders have raised alarms over a growing shortage of medical devices in Pakistan, warning that delays in registration approvals could lead to a severe health crisis.

Representatives from Healthcare Devices of Pakistan, Pakistan Chemists and Druggists Association (PCDA), and the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) have urged the government to expedite the registration process and extend the deadline for all classes of medical devices to prevent a major healthcare disruption.

Speaking at an urgent press conference at the Karachi Press Club, Syed Umar Ahmed, Chairman of Healthcare Devices of Pakistan, stated that the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) had initially set December 31, 2024, as the deadline for medical device import registrations.

However, despite entering March 2025, thousands of applications remain stuck in bureaucratic delays, exacerbating the crisis.

Ahmed revealed that multiple shipments of medical devices are currently being held at Lahore airport, causing millions of rupees in losses for importers while also disrupting critical patient treatments.

He emphasised the urgent need to accelerate the registration process and extend the deadline to ensure a steady supply of essential medical equipment.

Abdul Samad Budhani, Chairman of the PCDA, warned that Pakistan’s healthcare sector is already facing severe challenges, and any further shortage of medical devices could paralyse hospital operations and treatment facilities.

“This is not just an issue for importers or the medical device industry — it’s a national crisis in the making,” Budhani said.

“If immediate action is not taken, Pakistan will face a major shortage of medical devices within months.”

Adnan Siddiqui, spokesperson for Healthcare Devices of Pakistan, highlighted that 90% of medical devices in Pakistan are imported, including surgical instruments, diagnostic machines, MRI and CT scanners, cardiac stents, dialysis machines, and other critical equipment.

He warned that without urgent registration approvals, hospitals will struggle to treat patients, affecting life-saving procedures such as cardiac surgery, organ transplants, and advanced medical treatments.

“Our applications have been pending for years, and by the time approvals come through, the technology becomes outdated. This is a grave injustice to patients,” he said.

Abid Maniar, representative of the FPCCI, criticised the excessive bureaucracy in Pakistan’s medical device registration process, stating that other countries have simplified their regulatory frameworks, while Pakistan’s process remains needlessly complex.

“Here, it takes four to five years to approve a single application, which is unacceptable,” Maniar said.

“We need a system that ensures timely registration of medical devices so that patients receive modern and effective treatments.”

Healthcare industry leaders have appealed to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal to take immediate notice of the crisis, extend the registration deadline, and implement emergency measures to speed up approvals.

They warned that failure to act swiftly could disrupt hospital treatments and put countless patient lives at risk.