Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal chaired a review meeting on the digitalization of medical device licensing by the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP), emphasizing the need for transparent and expedited processes to benefit the public and rebuild trust in the healthcare system.
During the meeting, participants discussed recent digitalization initiatives, industry feedback, and ongoing challenges faced in the implementation process. Minister Kamal directed that the entire licensing procedure for medical devices should be completed within 20 days, aiming to significantly reduce processing times and enhance efficiency.
He stressed the importance of familiarizing the public with the new digital system to ensure they can fully benefit from its improved facilities and transparency. The Minister urged that all promises made to the public must be fulfilled without delay.
Highlighting the importance of merit and fairness, Minister Kamal called for minimal human contact within DRAP’s processes to eliminate opportunities for malpractice. He instructed the authority to fortify transparency and speed in processing, underlining that all measures necessary to restore public confidence should be implemented.
Additionally, Minister Kamal emphasized the need to educate citizens about the digital licensing system so they can navigate it successfully. He also directed DRAP to strengthen both its human resources and technical support to effectively run the digitalization project.
Concluding the meeting, the Health Minister called for the mobilization of all available resources to ensure the project’s success and sustainability.
