Pakistan: The DRAP syringe alert has banned the sale and use of 17 batches of auto-disable syringes after the regulator found them non-compliant with safety standards.
The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan said the affected syringes, measuring 3ml to 5ml, were manufactured by 11 companies. It issued medical product alerts for all listed batches and ordered their immediate removal from the market.
DRAP said samples tested by the Central Drug Laboratory and Drug Testing Laboratory Karachi failed the required auto-disable functionality test. The regulator said faulty locking mechanisms could allow the syringes to be reused.
Read: DRAP Issues Counterfeit Medicines Alert Over Dangerous Drug Batches
The authority warned that syringe reuse poses a serious public health risk. It said unsafe reuse could contribute to the spread of infectious diseases, including hepatitis and HIV.
DRAP said three batches made by two Chinese companies were among the non-compliant products. Other affected manufacturers were based in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The regulator directed provincial authorities and field forces to conduct market surveys and identify affected batches. It also ordered the seizure of substandard syringe stocks already available in markets.
Manufacturers, importers and distributors were instructed to recall the affected batches immediately to prevent risks to public safety.
