News Desk
DUBAI/KARACHI: Saman-e-Shifa Foundation (SSF) and Easy Health Tech are organizing a conference on Boosting Medical Devices Export led development in Pakistan at Karachi Expo Centre on October 20, 2023.
Dr. Saad Niaz, Sindh Health Minister, will serve as the Chief Guest, and former Federal Minister of Health, Dr. Zafar Mirza, will be the keynote speaker.
The event will feature speakers from leading pharmaceutical and medical device companies, as well as representatives from medical and engineering universities, the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP), non-profit organizations, and other stakeholders, sharing their insights in Thought Leadership talks.
There will be two exciting panel discussions focusing on the link between industry and academia, with participation from University Vice Chancellors and Industry Leaders. Additionally, there will be a panel discussion on the draft National Medical Devices policy aimed at import substitution and increasing medical device exports, targeting a value of up to USD 300 million, in addition to surgical exports.
Saman-e-Shifa Foundation (SSF) is a non-profit organization registered under section 42 with SECP. SSF’s ultimate vision is to create an enabling ecosystem for affordable and accessible healthcare for humanity. SSF is led by Prof. Dr. Shahid Noor and
other professionals as Honorary Directors. Easy Health Tech Int’l Pvt Ltd specializes in digital health, biological diagnostics, and medical device development, led by the Khanani Brothers, Prof. Dr. Rafiq Khanani, and Engr. Naeem Khanani.
According to a research study, the medical device market in Pakistan is estimated to be worth USD 500 to 600 million, with an expected growth rate of 15% CAGR over the next five years (2023 to 2028).
Most medical devices are currently imported from
Europe, China, Japan, the USA, South Korea, and other countries. To boost the medical device industry in Pakistan, it is suggested to establish licensing arrangements with foreign countries to produce these devices locally, saving foreign exchange and increasing exports, which are critical for the economy. Pakistan currently spends over PKR 1.2 billion annually on importing cardiac stents, and this expenditure can be significantly reduced by using DRAP approved cardiac stents without compromising patient safety.
A high-powered Panel Discussion on Industry-Academia Linkage, moderated by the conference director, Engr. Naeem Khanani, will bring together Chairman SHEC, Vice Chancellors, scholars from universities, and industrialists and businessmen to discuss the challenges and opportunities for bridging the gap between industry and academia.
The Pharma & Medical Devices Enclave, an export-led industrial park in Karachi’s Special Economic Zone, is set to be announced. This enclave has the potential to attract up to USD 10 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI), with additional annual exports of USD 1.5 to 2.5 billion from the pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical devices sectors. An Experience Zone within the conference area, presented by M/s Easy Health Tech and SSF, will showcase medical devices and offer live demonstrations of ventilators, interactive patient simulators, bio-sensor-based kits, and many other medical devices.
