Produce local medical devices

Pakistan medical fraternity has called for locally manufacturing medical devices to reduce the country's reliance on imports, with 98% of devices currently being imported. The government must encourage made-in-Pakistan products and prioritise the emerging indigenous medical device industry to cut the import bill and boost exports, leveraging the country's reputation as the "land of competent doctors and engineers." The global medical device industry is valued at $600 billion with Pakistan's market standing at hardly 1% of this figure. Hi-tech engineering services in Pakistan provide a range of engineering solutions in many fields globally and require the government's support to grow, they said. For example, the first locally-manufactured AlnnoVent AVB-100 ICU Ventilator, recently approved by the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) and set for market release in 2025, is world-class standard.