Minister urges boost in local medical device production

Industry leaders welcome reforms but call for tax relief and timely certification to sustain growth

IV Report

KARACHI: Federal Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal has called for greater domestic production of medical devices to strengthen patient care and reduce dependence on imports, while industry representatives urged the government to ease taxation and streamline regulations for a more sustainable business environment.

Speaking at the 8th Annual General Meeting of the Healthcare Devices Association of Pakistan (HDAP) on September 19, the minister stressed the need for international partnerships, joint ventures, and technology transfer. “Bring international companies to Pakistan for local manufacturing of medical devices, enter into joint ventures, and focus on technology transfer so we can end dependence on foreign devices and ensure national health security,” he said.

Kamal underlined that Pakistan has high expectations from its medical device sector, calling for innovation, research, and the production of top-quality equipment for both domestic needs and exports. He noted that digitization of the registration process had reduced approval timelines from up to three years to just 20 days, with 500 devices already registered under the new system. “We want to restore confidence in locally manufactured devices, promote indigenous production, and build an ecosystem where Pakistan can flourish in healthcare as well as in exports,” he added.

Industry leaders welcomed the reforms but sought urgent tax relief and operational support. HDAP Chairman Syed Omer Ahmed described the current 18 percent sales tax on imported devices as unsustainable and urged parity with the pharmaceutical sector. “Manufacturing of medical devices is the future of Pakistan, but the high sales tax discourages both local production and imports. Rationalisation would facilitate both patients and industry,” he said.

While acknowledging improvements in the online registration process, Ahmed flagged delays in the issuance of certificates despite approvals. “Without certificates, companies cannot sell products. In some cases, devices are expiring in warehouses, causing financial losses to importers and denying patients access to essential equipment,” he warned.

Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) CEO Dr Obaidullah Malik said amendments to medical device rules were underway to support indigenous production. “Our goal is to evolve regulations that enable local manufacturing and make DRAP a facilitator and enabler,” he told the gathering.

Former HDAP Chairman Masood Ahmed said the government’s efforts to strengthen the sector were crucial to ensuring timely access to essential equipment within the country.

The meeting also featured the presentation of HDAP Lifetime Achievement Awards to eminent healthcare figures Prof Abdul Bari Khan, Prof Abdul Ghaffar Billo, and Prof Tipu Sultan.