10cc Syringe Ban Poses Risk to Newborn Treatment Amid Rising HIV Cases, Experts Warn
Lahore: Concerns have been raised over the nationwide ban on 10cc syringes, with health experts warning that the restriction could adversely affect the treatment of newborns and pediatric patients amid rising HIV cases in Pakistan.
Professor Dr. Muhammad Khalid Shafi, Chairperson of the National Immunization Technical Advisory Group (NITAG), has written an urgent letter to the Chief Executive Officer of the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP), calling for a review of the ban.
In his letter, Dr. Shafi described the complete prohibition of 10cc syringes as a potential threat to neonatal and pediatric healthcare. He emphasized that 10cc syringes are essential for administering accurate doses of medications to infants and children and are routinely used in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) and pediatric wards.
He warned that the ban could disrupt the nutritional and medical care of newborns, particularly those requiring precise fluid and medication administration.
According to the letter, needle-free 10cc syringes are standard medical devices used for delivering liquid medicines to children and newborns. Dr. Shafi urged regulators to adopt evidence-based and targeted measures rather than imposing a blanket ban.
He recommended granting specific exemptions for the medical use of 10cc syringes in pediatric and neonatal care and proposed the formation of an expert advisory committee to assess the issue comprehensively.
Dr. Shafi stressed that while preventing HIV transmission is an important public health objective, infection control measures should not compromise essential medical treatment for vulnerable patients.
He has appealed to DRAP for immediate consultations with healthcare experts and called for a reconsideration of the scope of the ban to ensure the uninterrupted availability of 10cc syringes for pediatric and neonatal patients.
