Pakistan becomes one of the 18 countries around the world to start manufacturing cardiac STENTS.

Pakistan is the second Muslim country to locally manufacture cardiac stents. The second country among Muslim states for being capable of locally manufacture cardiac stents. The National University of science and technology (NUST) in the federal capital Islamabad made it for the first time. Pakistan is now among the few countries manufacturing heart stents. The cardiac stents manufacturing unit, N- Ovative health technology facility.

Stents are an important phenomenon related to heart patients. Poverty is a serious issue in Pakistan. According to Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Shahbaz Gill, Pakistan spends Rs. 8 billion (over $49 million) annually on importing cardiac stents from abroad. He said that Pakistan has become the second Muslim country in the world. After Turkey and the second in South Asia after Hindustan to locally produce cardiac stents.

Another landmark

Pakistan became the 18th country in the world to manufacture cardiac stents. Pakistan has joined the list of a few other countries. This technology produces cardiac stents locally. The Prime Minister’s Office said the facility would be the first to manufacture heart stents. The local level, adding that it would also make Pakistan the 18th country in the world to do so. The prime minister is inaugurating stents of heart manufacturing [facility] at NUST Science Park,” tweeted the minister.

He added that these cardiac stents would be manufactured to European standards. And Pakistan would be in a group of selected countries. That can produce stents. The prime minister said that a huge number of people die from cardiac diseases. Ailments in the country and lauded the National University of Sciences & Technology (NUST) for its initiative.

Producing heart stents locally is nothing less than a breakthrough. He also said that nations decide for themselves. Where they want to head and have their goals and aspirations clear for themselves. We see a lack of coordination in our organizations which is blurring our vision. Pakistan becomes the ‘second Muslim country’ in the world of South Asia after Turkey and Hindustan, respectively, to produce stents.

Dr. Murtaza Najabat Ali, a biomedical engineer at the NUST School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, was working on the preparation of Heart stents (both bare-metal and drug-eluted) at Medical Devices Development Centre (MDDC) NUST for more than a year now. Once the manufacturing starts and prices coming down there will be sponsors who will come forward and help support. A stent of the heart is used to treat narrowed or blocked coronary arteries. It can also be used to improve blood flow immediately after a heart attack.

After many years and another three years of collective efforts, Dr. Murtaza Najabat and his team experienced a Eureka moment. The highly motivated team of young scientists from the Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST). They had been constantly working to manufacture high-quality and cost-effective stents to facilitate 80 percent of Pakistan’s population who suffer from cardiovascular diseases. But are deprived of treatment due to high costs.

The locally manufactured cardiac stents and catheters will be readily available in local hospitals at one-fourth. The price of its competitive imported products at the end of this year. This price of imported bare metal and drug-eluting stents in the market ranges from Rs35,000 to Rs55,000, and Rs75,000 to Rs125,000, respectively as well. Dr. Murtaza Najabat Ali, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) N-innovative Health Technologies (NHT) at NUST and the man behind the heart touching achievement told The Express Tribune about the cost of cardiac stents.

Doctor Azhar Kayani said that the local production of such medical equipment devices is the need of one hour. Because it will benefit the country and its citizens in more than one way. Anyhow, the current statistics reveal that 40,000 stents are implanted each year. But the facility is available to economically-sound patients, which covers only 20 percent of the demand for stents in Pakistan.

Doctor Ali the local cardiologists said that skepticism about the quality of locally made products was another daunting task which took years to overcome. The locally produced stents were tested extensively in comparison to their international counterparts. And it is on part with the clinical performance of the imported stents. The tests were carried out in different renowned centers of Germany and Poland. The Prime Minister said that Pakistan’s imports exceeded its exports. China, on the other hand, increased its imports and strengthened its economy in this way.

Pakistan Becomes 2nd Muslim Country that Manufactures Heart Stents

According to Federal Minister for Science & Technology, Fawad Chaudhry.

The cardiac stents developed at NUST are in line with European standards. will save Pakistan Rs. 8 billion on its annual import bill. Local production will reduce the cost of cardiac stents in Pakistan, which will ultimately benefit heart patients. A medical equipment manufacturing zone is being set up on 200 acres in Faisalabad. An industrial area where essential medical equipment including cardiac stents, cannulas, syringes, needles, x-ray, and dialysis machines. We, Will, be developed, allowing Pakistan to save $1.4 billion on its import bill. The medical equipment manufacturing zone will be set up in Sialkot. This will increase the Sialkot District’s current annual exports from 400 400 million to 2 billion in just two years.

News like this is a pride for Pakistan. NUST is innovating leaps and bounds under its RECTOR Naveed Zaman. Pakistan federal minister for science and technology Fawad Chaudhry inaugurate that this initiative of NUST is just a marvelous example of Pakistani innovation. He said I’m so proud of our scientists, engineers, technicians who introduced a new innovative technology. So, I’m so proud of these people around us who have done such wonders in this difficult time.

They put an amazing contribution of NUST towards the Pakistan health system. With the inauguration of this facility, Pakistan will take another big step in medical technology. He also added that the local production will bring down the prices of cardiac stents in Pakistan. That would finally benefit heart patients. The Drugs Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRP) approved NUST to set up a cardiac stent manufacturing plant.