DRAP policy leaves used equipment in limbo

Medical equipment importers have urged the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) to review its newly issued import policy, warning that excluding second-hand medical equipment from the regulatory framework could disrupt healthcare services, increase costs for hospitals and threaten thousands of jobs.

The concerns follow DRAP's Notification No 1-1/2026/DD-MDMC, which allows the import of refurbished medical devices but does not explicitly address the import of used (second-hand) medical equipment. Industry stakeholders argue such equipment forms the backbone of Pakistan's private healthcare system and is widely used by hospitals, clinics and diagnostic centres due to affordability.

According to the Pakistan Second-Hand Medical Equipment Importers Association, nearly 90% of the private healthcare sector relies on imported second-hand medical equipment to establish and upgrade diagnostic and treatment facilities at significantly lower costs than those associated with brand-new machines.

In a joint statement, association representatives Khalid Rafiq Chaudhry, Masroor Ahmed Khan, Abdul Wahab Rafique, Naveed Ahmad and Mian Miraj expressed reservations, saying the notification creates uncertainty without clarity on the legal status and import mechanism for used equipment.

They said quality second-hand equipment enables healthcare providers to offer modern diagnostic and treatment services at affordable prices, reducing the financial burden on patients. Restrictions on imports, they warned, could slow the expansion of private healthcare facilities, particularly smaller hospitals serving low- and middle-income communities.

The association claimed the notification was issued without consultation with key industry stakeholders and stressed that meaningful engagement was essential to ensure practical regulations that balance public health objectives with business realities.

Pak China Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry also called on DRAP and the federal government to revisit the policy before implementation. The chamber argued that regulatory reforms should be developed through broad-based consultation with importers, healthcare professionals and trade bodies. PCJCCI President Nazir Hussain said regulation should improve quality and patient safety without creating unnecessary barriers for businesses that have supplied affordable equipment for years.

PJCCI office bearers warned that excluding the sector could result in business closures, job losses and higher costs for healthcare providers. They said affordable imported equipment has long supported hospitals and diagnostic centres in expanding services across the country.

Regulatory reforms developed through consultation are more effective and easier to implement, they added. Any future framework should ensure patient safety while preserving employment, encouraging investment and maintaining access to cost-effective medical technology.

Both organisations urged DRAP to establish a comprehensive framework defining import mechanisms for both refurbished and second-hand equipment and to institutionalise consultation for future legislation affecting the medical devices sector.