The Government of Pakistan has announced a nationwide ban on the manufacture, import, and sale of manual medical syringes with a capacity of less than 10cc, introducing stricter safety measures to prevent the reuse of contaminated syringes and reduce the spread of infectious diseases.
The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) has issued an official notification outlining the new regulations, which have been circulated to the governments of Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), as well as syringe manufacturers and importers across the country.
Auto-lock syringes mandatory from 2027
According to DRAP, the new rules will take effect on January 1, 2027, after which only auto-lock (auto-disable) syringes will be allowed for sale and use in Pakistan.
The regulator clarified that insulin syringes are exempt from the ban due to their specialized medical use.
Existing exemptions withdrawn
Pakistan had previously prohibited the use of 2cc and 5cc manual syringes in healthcare settings. Under the latest notification, the exemption allowing 10cc manual syringes in both public and private hospitals has also been withdrawn.
DRAP has simultaneously revoked an earlier notification issued on July 1, 2026, which placed restrictions on specific syringe sizes, replacing it with the new comprehensive policy.
Manufacturers given deadline
The drug regulator has directed all syringe manufacturers to convert their production lines from conventional manual syringes to Safety Engineered Reuse Prevention (RUP) syringes by December 31, 2026.
In addition, manufacturers and importers must obtain prior approval from DRAP before producing, importing, or marketing auto-lock syringes in Pakistan.
Preventing the spread of infections
Health experts have long warned that the reuse of disposable syringes contributes to the transmission of serious infectious diseases, including hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV.
DRAP stated that shifting to auto-lock syringe technology is essential to improving patient safety and preventing syringe reuse, which remains a significant public health concern in Pakistan.
The authority said the transition is intended to strengthen infection control standards across the country’s healthcare system.
Provinces directed to enforce new rules
The federal government has instructed all provincial administrations to ensure strict implementation of the new regulations and monitor compliance among healthcare facilities, manufacturers, distributors, and importers.
Officials believe the move will significantly reduce the risk of syringe reuse and help improve Pakistan’s overall healthcare safety standards.
