29. Recall Alert – DTL Sindh declared Substandard Auto Disable Syringes

Recall Alert

DRUG PRODUCTS DECLARED SUBSTANDARD BY PROVINCIAL LABORATORIES
DRAP Alert NoNo I/S/05-26-29
Action Date22nd May, 2026
Target Audience– National Regulatory Field Force.
– Healthcare Professionals – Physicians, Pharmacists, and Nurses at hospitals and clinics
– General Public
Problem / Issue Drug Testing Laboratory Sindh, Karachi has informed the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan that samples of the below-mentioned medical devices have been declared “Substandard” due to failure of the Self-Destructive Performance / Auto-Disability Test (re-use prevention feature).

Therapeutic Goods (s) Affected: –

Risk Statement:Auto-disable and auto-destruct syringes are designed to become permanently inoperable after a single use. Failure of the self-destructive mechanism may permit reuse of the device, increasing the risk of transmission of blood-borne pathogens Auto-disable and auto-destruct syringes are designed to become permanently inoperable after a single use. Failure of the self-destructive mechanism may permit reuse of the device, increasing the risk of transmission of blood-borne pathogens including Hepatitis B Virus (HBV), Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Reuse of such defective syringes may also result in cross-contamination, healthcare-associated infections and serious public health consequences, particularly during immunization programmes and other invasive medical procedures.
Action InitiatedThe field force of DRAP and Provincial Drug Control Departments has been directed to immediately conduct market surveys for detection of presence and removal of the affected batches from the market. Manufacturers, importers and distributors have been directed to initiate recall of the affected batches in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements.
Advice for Healthcare ProfessionalsDRAP requests increased vigilance within the supply chains of institutions/pharmacies/healthcare facilities likely to be affected by batches of mentioned products. Adverse reactions or quality problems experienced with the use of above mentioned batches of the drug product are to be reported to the National Pharmacovigilance Centre (NPC), DRAP using Adverse
Event Reporting Form or online through this link.  Further information of reporting problems to DRAP is available on this link.
Advice for Pharmacies/Medical stores: –All pharmacists and chemists working at distributions and pharmacies should immediately check their stocks and stop supplying the above-mentioned batches. The remaining stocks should be quarantined and returned to the supplier/company. Regulatory field force of all federating units should also increase surveillance in the market to ensure effective recall of the affected products.
Advice for ConsumersConsumers and healthcare facilities in possession of the affected batches should immediately stop using these products and contact the supplier, distributor or manufacturer for return or replacement. Any adverse event or quality issue associated with the use of these products should be reported to DRAP/National Pharmacovigilance Centre.

28. Recall Alert – CDL Karachi declared substandard Auto Disable Syringes.

Recall Alert

MEDICAL DEVICES DECLARED SUBSTANDARD BY CENTRAL DRUG LABORATORY KARACHI  
DRAP Alert NoNo I/S/05-26-28
Action Date22nd May, 2026
Target Audience– National Regulatory Field Force.
– Healthcare Professionals – Physicians, Pharmacists, and Nurses at hospitals and clinics
– General Public
Problem / Issue Central Drugs Laboratory (CDL), Karachi has informed that samples of the below-mentioned Auto Disable Syringes have been declared “Substandard” due to failure of the Self-Destructive Performance / Auto-Disability Test (re-use prevention feature).

Therapeutic Goods (s) Affected: –

Risk Statement:Auto-disable and auto-destruct syringes are designed to become permanently inoperable after a single use. Failure of the self-destructive mechanism may permit reuse of the device, increasing the risk of transmission of blood-borne pathogens including Hepatitis B Virus (HBV), Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Reuse of such defective syringes may also result in cross-contamination, healthcare-associated infections and serious public health consequences, particularly during immunization programmes and other invasive medical procedures.
Action Initiated-The field force of DRAP and Provincial Drug Control Departments has been directed to immediately conduct market surveys for detection of presence and removal of the affected batches from the market. Manufacturers, importers and distributors have been directed to initiate recall of the affected batches in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements.
–Regulatory field force of all federating units (DRAP, Provincial Health Departments, and States) has also increased the surveillance in the market to ensure the effective recall of defective product(s).
Advice for Healthcare ProfessionalsDRAP requests increased vigilance within the supply chains of institutions/pharmacies/healthcare facilities likely to be affected by batches of mentioned products. Adverse reactions or quality problems experienced with the use of above mentioned batches of the drug product are to be reported to the National Pharmacovigilance Centre (NPC), DRAP using Adverse
Event Reporting Form or online through this link.  Further information of reporting problems to DRAP is available on this link.
Advice for Pharmacies/Medical stores: –All pharmacists and chemists working at distributions and pharmacies should immediately check their stocks and stop supplying the above-mentioned batches. The remaining stocks should be quarantined and returned to the supplier/company. Regulatory field force of all federating units should also increase surveillance in the market to ensure effective recall of the affected products.
Advice for ConsumersConsumers and healthcare facilities in possession of the affected batches should immediately stop using these products and contact the supplier, distributor or manufacturer for return or replacement. Any adverse event or quality issue associated with the use of these products should be reported to DRAP/National Pharmacovigilance Centre.