KARACHI: Dr. Saif ur Rehman, Director and Federal Government Analyst at the Central Drugs Laboratory (CDL), Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP), visited the Hemophilia Welfare Society Karachi (HWSK) Head Office and its Comprehensive Hemophilia Treatment Centre at Abbasi Shaheed Hospital as part of ongoing efforts to improve access to essential medicines for hemophilia and rare bleeding disorders in Pakistan.
The visit followed earlier discussions between DRAP and HWSK on challenges surrounding the availability and accessibility of clotting factor therapies. Dr. Saif ur Rehman reviewed HWSK’s patient-care mechanism, treatment and support services, research, data collection and initiatives aimed at addressing gaps in bleeding-disorder care.
A detailed briefing at the HWSK Head Office was attended by Founder and CEO Raheel Ahmed Khan, Medical Director Prof. Dr. Munira Borhany, Patron Anis ur Rehman and Dr. Sarfaraz Hussain Jaffery. Dr. Heeba Qureshi, Abbasi Ali and Dr. Nida briefed the visiting official on HWSK’s contribution towards establishing dedicated hemophilia wards and treatment centres, particularly at the district level, to expand specialised care within Pakistan’s public healthcare system.
The briefing highlighted a significant gap between the need for and availability of Clotting Factor Concentrates (CFCs), von Willebrand factor and products required for rare clotting-factor deficiencies in Pakistan.
HWSK representatives said humanitarian assistance provided through the World Federation of Hemophilia (WFH) remained a vital lifeline for patients but currently met only around 15 per cent of the existing demand for CFCs, leaving a substantial treatment gap.
The meeting also highlighted support from the Sindh Government through the Sindh Blood Transfusion Authority for the hemophilia prophylaxis programme, as well as initiatives supported by the Balochistan Government, which are helping expand access to advanced preventive treatment for eligible patients.
Participants observed that despite these interventions, a large proportion of people living with hemophilia, von Willebrand disease and rare factor deficiencies continued to depend on less appropriate treatment options because of limited and inconsistent availability of specific clotting-factor therapies.
They noted that delays in receiving appropriate treatment could lead to recurrent bleeding, progressive joint damage and deformity, disability, life-threatening internal or intracranial bleeding, emergency hospitalisation and an increased burden on patients, families and the healthcare system.
The discussions also focused on regulatory and import-related challenges affecting the accessibility and availability of essential medicines for bleeding disorders. DRAP and HWSK expressed their commitment to strengthening coordination and exploring practical measures to address these barriers.
A key area of discussion was the need to accelerate progress towards plasma fractionation in Pakistan, which could contribute to a more sustainable domestic pathway for plasma-derived medicinal products.
Both sides expressed determination to explore joint initiatives, including awareness activities, stakeholder engagement and seminars, to improve understanding of bleeding disorders and build momentum towards the development of a sustainable national plasma-fractionation pathway.
The visit concluded with an emphasis on continued engagement between regulators, healthcare professionals, patient organisations and other stakeholders to improve access to safe and appropriate therapies for people living with hemophilia and other rare bleeding disorders across Pakistan.
