First locally made advanced X-ray machine unveiled

The country’s first locally manufactured advanced X-ray machine was unveiled at the 22nd Health Asia International Exhibition and Conference in Karachi on Thursday.

According to Muhammad Rafiq, Director of Rays Medical World, the firm had earlier produced basic X-ray machines that were installed in several hospitals across Pakistan. The latest model, however, is an upgraded FDR (Flat Panel Digital Radiography) system which is designed and assembled entirely by Pakistani engineers using local resources.

“An imported advanced X-ray machine costs around Rs15 million, but it is priced at Rs4 million. The Chughtai Lab, Kutiyana Memon Hospital use these versions,” Rafiq told The Express Tribune. “Our model costs significantly less than imported machines, making advanced radiography more accessible for local hospitals,” he said, adding the company also plans to export the device in the near future.

“The purpose of our new design is to make the machine moveable so that a single FDR can be used for both chest and other types of X-rays. It’s a fully digital model that can even be operated through a mobile phone," explained Rafiq.

The event was inaugurated by Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal and drew a large number of government officials, healthcare professionals, industrial experts, and foreign delegates.

“Events like Health Asia reflect the growing potential of Pakistan’s healthcare and medical technology sectors,” said Kamal. “Such exhibitions should be held more frequently to strengthen the country’s healthcare system on modern lines,” he added.

Other Exhibitors

Here is a selection of other exhibitors from the event.

Heartbeat monitoring patch

Aman Ventures has a digital health platform dubbed AViCA which enables streamlined healthcare for patients and providers. They have released the AViCardia: a waterproof, reusable patch that provides up to 7 days of Holter Monitoring — monitoring one's heartbeat for any irregularities — which allows patients and medical professionals to quickly check in on the patient's heart health (a portable electrocardiogram).

"This device is the first of its kind in Pakistan," a product manager for Aman Ventures claimed, adding that it is currently deployed at the two hospitals in Karachi.

Customised ambulances

Specialising in custom-made automotives, Al-Bashir Custom Fabrication focuses on the manufacture and supply of vehicles across Pakistan. Most of the vehicles they provide are made locally, and they supply hospitals with custom-made ambulances fitted to each service provider's needs, as well as custom-made automobiles for individual and police use.

Taking medical histories

Integrating AI with healthcare, Boston Health AI shows the "world's first AI-powered physician's assistant" to help in patient care. According to them, Hami, the AI-assistant, can take patient histories and construct them into clinical notes, make clinical documentation and provide treatment recommendations.

They add that Hami is meant to streamline the process of seeing a patient so less time is taken with history taking and more time discussing the treatment or diagnosis.

Healthcare charity

Hammad Foundation runs charitable services such as roti banks that provide Rs10 rotis in Karachi, water plants across Balochistan and Tharparkar. They also have a medical complex in Karachi which provides many services for only Rs50 to Rs100. Talking to the spokesperson there, we learned that these services are open to all.

Digital hospital

Pakistan's first international venture called Novacare Hospital is slated to open its doors in Islamabad in October of 2026, and they say that the hospital will attempt to operate completely digitally and will then look to open institutions in Lahore and Karachi. They intend to follow the standards of the British National Health Service and will have international auditors come in to ensure quality control.

Cell and gene therapy

Taskin Bioregeneration is a biotechnology company based in Iran that specialises in cell and gene therapies. Their DestroCell technology can be used to provide cell therapy for children with Autism by reducing inflammation in the brain, supporting brain repair and communication pathways and helping improve their social behaviour.

Other products assist with cellular repair of wounds, and they said "hope they can provide these services to Pakistan soon," as per their spokesperson.

Infertility treatments

Behrad Royesh Royan based in Iran they are known as the "largest manufacturer of consumer medical equipment in the field of gynaecology and infertility treatment". They have already imported to Russia, Lebanon and Iraq, and are now looking for opportunities to provide their services to Pakistani hospitals.

With additional reporting by Daniyal Khuhro.