Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has launched a new digital system aimed at improving the licensing and registration process of medical devices in Pakistan. Speaking at the launch ceremony on Monday, he said the initiative will bring speed, transparency, and merit into a sector that has long suffered from delays.
New digital system to modernise healthcare regulation in Pakistan
The prime minister said the new digital platform will ensure that applications for medical device registration are processed within 20 days. He called the move a step toward revolutionising the country’s healthcare system through technology and efficiency.
Reflecting on past challenges, PM Shehbaz acknowledged the delays that had plagued the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) but expressed confidence that this system would eliminate such problems. “What used to take years will now take weeks,” he said.
He shared past experiences from his time as Punjab chief minister, recalling how unsafe heart medicines had once caused deaths in Lahore. International reports later revealed that the drugs were not fit for cardiovascular treatment. These lapses, he said, showed why reforms in regulation were urgently needed.
PM Shehbaz also praised healthcare professionals like Major General (retd) Azhar Mahmood Kayani, whose leadership transformed the Rawalpindi Institute of Cardiology into a model hospital. He said Pakistan needs more such institutions and individuals committed to quality healthcare.
The prime minister reiterated his government’s past efforts to improve healthcare, including a large budget for free medicines in public hospitals during his tenure in Punjab. He said the government remains committed to improving public health services and ensuring better treatment for every citizen.
The launch of the digital licensing system marks a key step in modernising Pakistan’s healthcare infrastructure and restoring public trust in medical oversight.
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