PCJCCI urges DRAP to review medical device import policy

LAHORE: The Pakistan China Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCJCCI) has called upon the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) and the government of Pakistan to revisit the recently issued notification regarding medical device import policy, urging authorities to engage all relevant stakeholders before enforcing regulations that could significantly impact Pakistan’s healthcare sector and medical device import industry.

PCJCCI President Nazir Hussain said that the notification recognized only refurbished medical devices for import while overlooking second-hand medical equipment, which currently catered to nearly 90 percent of the private healthcare sector’s medical equipment requirements in Pakistan.

Industry experts believed the policy, if implemented without amendments, could disrupt the supply chain of affordable medical equipment and threaten the livelihood of hundreds of importers and thousands of employees associated with the sector.

The PCJCCI president emphasized that policymaking should always be based on broad stakeholder engagement.

He stated that the medical device industry was an integral part of Pakistan’s healthcare ecosystem, and any regulatory changes should strike a balance between ensuring patient safety and maintaining uninterrupted access to affordable medical technology.

The objective of regulation should be to improve standards without creating unnecessary barriers for legitimate businesses that have served Pakistan’s healthcare sector for many years, he said.

Adeel Munawar, commercial ambassador of PCJCCI, said that the absence of consultation with the Second-Hand Medical Equipment Importers Association before issuing the notification had raised serious concerns among businesses operating in the sector.

He said that excluding a major segment of the industry from the policymaking process might lead to unintended economic consequences, including business closures, job losses, and increased costs for private healthcare providers.

Khalid Raffique Chaudhry, executive committee member of the PCJCCI, observed that sustainable regulatory reforms required collaboration between regulators, industry representatives, healthcare professionals, and trade bodies.

He said that policies developed through consultation were more effective, easier to implement, and better aligned with the realities of the healthcare market.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026