Pakistan’s Medical Device Industry Targets Import Substitution and Export Growth

PAKISTAN

The Saman-e-Shifa Foundation (SSF), in collaboration with Easy Health Tech International Pvt. Ltd. (EHTPL) hosted its 4th Annual SSF-EHTPL Conference at the Expo Centre, Karachi, as part of the 22nd HEALTH ASIA exhibition.

Themed “Boosting Medical Devices Development in Pakistan,” the event brought together leaders from government, industry, and academia to accelerate the national agenda for the indigenization and commercialization of medical devices.

Inauguration and Opening Remarks

The conference was inaugurated by Prof. Dr. Shahid Noor, Chairman SSF, alongside Engr. Naeem Khanani, COO Easy Health Tech, accompanied by members of the SSF Board of Directors and key stakeholders.

Government and Regulatory Commitment Endorsed by Syed Mustafa Kamal

Serving as Chief Guest, Syed Mustafa Kamal, Federal Minister for National Health Services, Regulations & Coordination, reaffirmed the government’s strong commitment to transforming Pakistan’s medical technology landscape.

The Minister emphasized the promotion of locally manufactured medical devices in public procurement to achieve import substitution and export-led growth.

He lauded recent regulatory reforms, noting that over 800 medical device registrations were processed online within 20 days — a dramatic improvement from the months previously required.

The Minister also praised the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) for adopting an “open-door policy” to facilitate industry development.

A conference shield was presented to the Minister by Prof. Dr. Shahid Noor, Engr. Naeem Khanani, Syed Arif Shah, Dr. Farhan Essa, and Gohar Alam.

Regulatory Advancements and MoU Signing

Dr. Obaidullah Malik, CEO of DRAP, announced a major regulatory shift, noting that while existing frameworks were historically import-centric, DRAP is now consulting with stakeholders to update rules in support of local manufacturing.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was formally signed between DRAP and SSF to promote the development of medical devices with a dual focus on import substitution and export orientation.

Technology Unveiling: Pakistan’s First Next-Generation ICU Ventilator

A major highlight of the event was the unveiling and donation of “ALNO VENT” — Pakistan’s first locally produced, next-generation ICU ventilator, developed by Alsons.
The ventilator was presented by Prof. Dr. Shahid Noor and the Federal Minister to Abdullah Feroze of Burns Centre Karachi.

Provincial Outreach

Bakht Muhammad Kakar, Provincial Minister for Health, Government of Balochistan, graced the event as Guest of Honor and formally invited the Saman-e-Shifa Foundation to establish an active presence in Quetta to expand its initiatives in Balochistan.

Industry and Academic Insights

Prof. Dr. Murtaza Najabat of Revive Medical Technologies shared their successful “idea-to-delivery” process for local medical device development, which is now being offered as an export service to Saudi Arabia and Jordan.

Dr. Suleman Alvi, Country Head, Martin Dow Specialities Pvt. Ltd., highlighted local advancements in diagnostic reagent development. He was presented the 4th Annual Conference Shield by Dr. Obaidullah Malik and Prof. Dr. Shahid Noor.

Aqeel Ahmed, CEO of Connectech Pvt. Ltd., discussed initiatives to leverage Pakistan’s defense-sector infrastructure for private sector collaborations in medical device manufacturing. During the Minister’s visit to the Experience Zone, Ahmed briefed him on Connectech’s landmark localization efforts.

Medical Devices Experience Zone

The Medical Devices Experience Zone showcased a wide range of locally assembled, developed, and manufactured products, including medical devices, implants, and diagnostic kits from companies such as Connectech, Martin Dow Specialities, Alsons, and PharmEvo.
Dignitaries, including the Chief Guest, toured the zone to discuss each company’s localization journey.

Expert Panels and Policy Discussions

Two major panel discussions provided actionable insights:

Industry–Academia Linkages – Moderated by Dr. Farhan Essa, with panelists Dr. Syed Irfan Hyder, Irfan Akram, Riasat Changhezi, and Dr. Arslan Siddiqui, focusing on challenges and opportunities in local development.

Import Substitution and Export Orientation – Moderated by Engr. Naeem Ilyas Khanani, COO EHTPL, this session emphasized the adoption of ISO 13485 quality standards and the complexities of contract manufacturing.

Dr. Obaidullah Malik committed to revising toll/contract manufacturing regulations in joint consultation with SSF and industry stakeholders.

Conclusion

The conference concluded with a joint vote of thanks from Gohar Alam and Syed Arif Shah, CEO SSF, reaffirming the collective resolve to position Pakistan as a leading manufacturer of high-quality, affordable medical devices for both domestic and international markets.

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