In the context of rising HIV cases, the ban on 10cc syringes has been declared a risk to the treatment of newborns.
Chairperson of NITAG (National Immunization Technical Advisory Group), Professor Dr. Muhammad Khalid Shafi, has written an urgent letter to the CEO of DRAP, calling for a review of the ban on 10cc syringes in light of HIV cases among children.
In the letter, a complete ban on 10cc syringes was described as a risk to the treatment of children and newborns. It stated that 10cc syringes are necessary for administering accurate doses of medicines to children. There is no alternative to 10cc syringes in NICUs and hospital wards. He said that the ban on 10cc syringes could affect the nutritional support of newborn babies.
The letter stated that 10cc syringes without needles are a routine medical device used for administering liquid medicines to children. Therefore, evidence based and targeted regulatory decisions should be made in this regard. A specific exemption should be granted instead of imposing a complete ban on 10cc syringes.
He proposed that DRAP establish a consultative committee comprising experts and said that infection control measures should not affect the treatment of children. Preventing HIV is necessary, but treatment should not be hindered.
Dr. Muhammad Khalid Shafi called for ensuring the availability of 10cc syringes for pediatric and neonatal patients and appealed to DRAP for immediate consultation and a review of the scope of the ban.
