Organ transplants are temporarily prohibited in Islamabad.

Official sources indicate that HOTA has dispatched letters to hospitals regarding their non-compliance with organ transplant laws and breaches of the HOTA Act 2010. The prohibition will persist until more notice is provided. Hospitals that do not form evaluation panels for organ transplants have had their transplant units suspended.

HOTA had mandated federal hospitals to establish review committees by November 30, 2024; however, numerous institutions did not adhere to this directive. This non-compliance constitutes a breach of the HOTA Act 2010, and disciplinary measures will be implemented against these hospitals.

The authorities had previously issued notices on November 20, 2024, directing hospitals to establish review committees to verify compliance with organ transplant regulations. Notwithstanding these cautions, numerous public and private hospitals ignored the guidelines, resulting in the cessation of transplant operations.

HOTA has asserted that stringent measures will be used against hospitals that do not adhere to these requirements, as the lack of adequate review committees presents considerable ethical and legal dilemmas.

On December 3, DRAP enacted a prohibition on eight batches of counterfeit and substandard medications for diabetes and critical treatments, citing apprehensions regarding their quality, efficacy, and potential effects on patient care.

Reports indicate that DRAP is executing a crackdown in Punjab, Balochistan, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where it has detected and confiscated counterfeit and substandard pharmaceuticals.

The Central Drug Testing Laboratory in Karachi classified eight batches of these medications as poor. The prohibited batches comprise: Diabetes Tablet: Amplemet XR (Batch 39224), Antibiotic Injection: Esanix (Batch IA702), Drip Solution: Zesol Drip (Batch 2408207), Sterile Water for Injection: (Batch WI893), Bacterial Infection Medicine: Flagenis Suspension (Batch 0362), Anti-Allergy Syrup: Desora Syrup (Batch S23236), and Vitamin B12 Infusions: Cyanoco Infusion (Batch 6609) and Cyanoco Super (Batch 6403).

The pharmaceuticals in question were manufactured by firms located in Karachi, Lahore, Faisalabad, and Haripur. Investigations indicated that these medications exhibited unclear efficacy and presented dangers to patient care.

DRAP has mandated stringent efforts to eradicate counterfeit and substandard pharmaceuticals, necessitating comprehensive examinations of the supply chain.