The Pakistan China Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCJCCI) has formally requested that the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) conduct a comprehensive review of the country’s medical device import policy.
The chamber argues that current regulations are creating unnecessary bottlenecks for Chinese manufacturers seeking to supply the Pakistani market, potentially stifling trade flows and limiting patient access to advanced equipment.
This development underscores the persistent regulatory hurdles facing foreign medical technology firms in South Asia.
While the PCJCCI focuses on import mechanics, the broader regional context reveals a sector under strain from policy uncertainty.
In neighboring Bangladesh, pharmaceutical manufacturers have recently lobbied for an urgent overhaul of medicine pricing policies, citing eroded profitability due to prolonged restrictions on price adjustments.
Similarly, Indian pharmaceutical exporters are grappling with significant logistical bottlenecks at key ports, including the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust, where customs delays are disrupting supply chains.