Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday stressed the need to bring about a revolution in the healthcare sector with coordinated efforts and determination by all stakeholders.

Addressing a ceremony after launching the digital system for licensing, registration of medical devices, the prime minister expressed hope that under the new digital system, the applications for registration of medical services and equipment would be decided within 20 days in a transparent and merit-based system.

Regretting the inordinate delays in the registration process of medical services in the past, the prime minister referred to the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) as “Drag as it used to drag the process not for months but for years. The reasons were known to all.”

The prime minister recollected that during his tenure as Punjab chief minister, he had sent samples of certain cardiovascular drugs abroad for testing, adding that the reports from abroad indicated that these drugs were meant to treat malaria and not heart patients. The case was not handled properly by DRAP, he added.

Shehbaz said that he had brought Major-Gen. (retd) Azhar Mahmood Kayani to the Rawalpindi Institute of Cardiology who through hard work and dedication turned the facility into an excellent institution.

He also appreciated the Minister for National Health Services Mustafa Kamal, for his efforts to introduce reforms in the health sector.

The minister took notice of the closure of hospitals and now they would be revived, he added.

The prime minister expressed optimism that with joint efforts, the government would change the fate of Pakistan.

Speaking on the occasion, Minister for National Health Services Mustafa Kamal said that contrary to the previous long periods of registration process, the period has been reduced to 20 days through an online digitisation system.

He said the system would be free from any human contact as the certificates would be available online without visiting DRAP.

Referring to major issues like population growth, waterborne diseases, he said the ministry was making efforts to overcome them.

The healthcare system was being improved with the public-private partnership, he said, adding that the primary healthcare system would be strengthened further to reduce the burden on the main healthcare centres.

The registration and licensing of everything – from wheelchairs to MRI machines – would be done online, the minister said, adding that people could submit online applications from their homes to obtain registration and licensing of medical devices.