In response to a recent scandal involving illegal kidney transplants at private hospitals in Islamabad, the Human Organ Transplant Authority (HOTA) has implemented a temporary ban on all organ transplant procedures in public and private hospitals across the city. This measure aims to enforce stricter adherence to transplant regulations and ensure compliance with the HOTA Act 2010, ARY News reported.
According to official sources, HOTA issued letters to hospitals highlighting violations of organ transplant regulations and the failure to establish evaluation committees required under the HOTA Act. The ban will remain in place until further notice, and transplant units at non-compliant hospitals have been suspended.
HOTA had previously instructed federal hospitals to form evaluation committees by November 30, 2024, to oversee and regulate transplant procedures. Despite repeated notices, many hospitals failed to comply, prompting disciplinary action. The absence of these committees has been deemed an ethical and legal violation, raising concerns about patient safety and transparency.
The authority emphasized that non-compliant hospitals will face strict actions as part of efforts to uphold transplant regulations and address the legal challenges posed by the lack of oversight.
DRAP Intensifies Crackdown on Substandard Medicines
In a related healthcare development, the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) recently banned eight batches of counterfeit and substandard medicines used for diabetes and life-saving treatments. The ban, announced on December 3, 2024, was implemented after the Central Drug Testing Lab in Karachi declared these medicines substandard.
The affected batches include:
- 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)
- Vitamin B12 Infusions: Cyanoco Infusion (Batch 6609) and Cyanoco Super (Batch 6403)
The medicines were produced by manufacturers in Karachi, Lahore, Faisalabad, and Haripur. DRAP has launched a nationwide crackdown, confiscating counterfeit and substandard drugs from markets in Punjab, Balochistan, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Investigations have revealed concerns over their efficacy, posing serious risks to patient safety.
Authorities have called for thorough scrutiny of the pharmaceutical supply chain to prevent the circulation of substandard drugs and ensure quality in patient care.
