Karachi:Saman-e-Shifa Foundation (SSF) and Easy Health Tech co-organized a conference on Boosting Medical Devices Export-led Development in Pakistan at Health Asia, Karachi Expo Centre. Speakers from leading pharma/ medical devices companies, medical and engineeringuniversities,not for profit and other organizations deliberated their thoughts as Thought Leadership talks.Prof.Dr.SyedShahidNoor,ChairmanSaman-e-Shifa Foundation (SSF) highlighted that SSF is not for profit organization registered u/s 42 with SECP and PCP,SSF ultimate vision is to make enabling eco system for affordable and accessible health care for humanity.
Engr.NaeemKhanani,COO Easy Health Tech and Quantum BioLabs stated that mostly medical devices are being import from Europe, China, Japan, USA, South Korea and other countries worth USD 1.1 Billion per Annum which can be locally produced under licensing arrangements with foreign countries to boost medical device industry in Pakistan to save hard earned foreign exchange and export medical devices to earn much needed forex.
In a key note speech by Dr.Zafar Mirza, former Federal Minister Health emphasized that it is the high time to come forward for devise National Medical Device Policy for boosting export led medical devices development in Pakistan.
Dr.Abdul Bari ,CEO Indus Hospital & Health network shared a 15 years success inspiring journey of IHNNon free delivery of health care services to masses all across Pakistan is the clear cut example of where is a will there’s a way. He informed that IHHN already started manufacturing of prosthetics and orthotic devices in Pakistan to fulfill local needs. Prof Dr. Farhan Essa Abdullah rightly deliberated and moderated a panel discussion on National Medical Device Policy 2023 jointly drafted by Easy Health tech and SSF with worthy panelists from industry and academia with applied knowledge like Prof.Dr.Tipu Sultan, Prof.Dr.MurtazaNajabat, Prof Dr.JoharAli,Syed Omer Ahmed of Shifa Devices and Zafar Mehmoodof LDS.
A high powered Panel Discussion on Industry Academia Linkage moderated by this Conference Director and COO Easy Health Tech Engr. NaeemKhanani. Panelists for such thought provoking Panel discussion were Prof.Dr.Tariq Rafi Chairman SHEC, vice Chancellors of NED University Prof.Dr.Sarosh Lodi, Prof.Dr.Shahid Noor, Prof.Izhar Hussain, Prof.Syed Irfan Hyder, ProfDr.IqbalKhan andIndustrialists, Businessmen as part of Industry discussed challenges and opportunities for bridging the gap between Industry and Academia for boosting medical device export led development in Pakistan
Pharma& Medical Enclave at Special Economic Zone announcement was made, an export led industrial park in Karachi which can attract upto USD 10 Billion FDI with an increase of additional exports of USD 300 to 500 Millionper annum from pharma ,biotech and medical devices sectors.
Experience Zone at Conference area presented by M/s Easy Health Tech with SSFwhich show cased medical devices and live performances of Ventilator, Autistic Robot and other Bio-sensors based kits and many more medical devices.
Prof.SyedShahidNoor ,Chairman ,Saman-e-Shifa Foundation (SSF) and Easy Health Tech made following Recommendations for Boosting Medical Devices development in Pakistan are:
1)All applicable Custom duties, taxes and levies for importing machinery and raw materials to produce medical devices should be waived and provide tax holiday to medical devices manufacturing facilities for initial period of 5 years, so that local development can boosted up.
2) DRAP to facilitate medical device manufacturers on fast track basis and provide Dissemination Seminars with Saman-e-Shifa to industry and academia.
3) Saman-e-Shifa is offering a series of workshops on Innovation Framework for development of Medical devices to ORIC directors at University level as well as to industry.
4)PPMA, Pharma Bureau, HDAP and saman-e-Shifa to collaborate for boosting medical devices development in Pakistan.
5) Pharma and Medical Device Enclave as export led Industrial Park will be an key step to attract FDI, an additional export revenue ,creation of direct and indirect jobs.
