Islamabad: In view of the increasing number of HIV cases in Pakistan, the Islamabad Healthcare Regulatory Authority (IHRA) has directed all healthcare establishments in the federal capital to immediately implement enhanced safety protocols for the use and disposal of needles and syringes, warning that non-compliance may invite penalties and disciplinary action.
In an official notification issued on Thursday, IHRA said the directive had been issued on the instructions of the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, as authorities move to tighten infection prevention measures amid growing concern over the spread of HIV and other blood-borne infections in the country.
“In view of the increasing number of HIV cases in Pakistan, and upon the directions of the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, all healthcare facilities are hereby directed to strictly implement enhanced safety protocols for the use and disposal of needles and syringes,” the notification issued by IHRA Chief Executive Officer Dr Zaeem Zia stated.
The authority directed hospitals, clinics, laboratories, diagnostic centres and other healthcare establishments to use disposable, safety-engineered “smart” syringes intended for one-time use and equipped with re-use prevention mechanisms.It also ordered that needles and syringes must be disposed of immediately after use in puncture-proof, leak-proof and tamper-resistant sharps containers.
The notification further directed healthcare facilities to ensure that all disposed needles and syringes are rendered unusable through approved methods, including needle cutters, destroyers or encapsulation, before final disposal under biomedical waste management protocols.
“Facility administrators are responsible for ensuring adherence to these guidelines. Non-compliance may result in penalties or disciplinary action as per IHRA regulations,” the authority warned.
The directive comes at a time when Pakistan is witnessing a worrying rise in HIV cases, with public health experts repeatedly linking unsafe injection practices, syringe reuse, poor infection prevention and weak regulatory enforcement to the spread of blood-borne diseases.
