Hospital Equipment Buying Checklist for Pakistan

Buying medical equipment is a long-term decision. A machine that is cheap on the day can become expensive if it cannot be serviced, if spare parts are hard to find, or if your staff were never trained to use it. Use this checklist before you place an order.

1. Define what you actually need

• Which tests, procedures or patients will the equipment serve, and how many per day?
• Who will operate it, and what training do they already have?
• Where will it be installed — does the room have the space, power points, water or oxygen supply it needs?
• Do you need one machine now, or a plan to add capacity later?

2. Look at the total cost, not just the price

• Consumables and reagents: what does each test or procedure cost to run?
• Accessories that wear out: probes, cuffs, cables, filters, tubing, lamps.
• Service: the cost of an annual maintenance contract and of common spare parts.
• Power protection: a voltage stabiliser or UPS is often necessary because mains voltage can fluctuate.

3. Ask the supplier for the right documents

• The manufacturer's name, country of origin and the exact model, written on the quotation.
• Whether the device needs registration with the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) and, if so, the registration details. Ask the supplier directly and keep a copy.
• The user manual, packing list and warranty card in a language your staff can read.
• For laboratory equipment, the reagent and consumable list and whether the system is open or closed.

4. Understand the warranty and after-sales support

• What exactly is covered — parts, labour, travel — and for how long?
• Who will come to your site, and from which city? How quickly can they respond?
• Are spare parts kept in Pakistan, or ordered from abroad on demand?
• Is installation and staff training included?

5. New or used

Used equipment can make sense for some budgets, but ask for the age, the running hours or usage history, what has been repaired or replaced, and a written warranty period. Insist on seeing the equipment working before you pay.

6. At delivery

• Check the model and serial number against your order.
• Have the equipment installed, tested and demonstrated to the staff who will use it.
• Record it in your asset register with its serial number, purchase date and warranty end date.
• Keep the manual, warranty card and invoice together in one file.

Madina Surgical Trader supplies this kind of equipment to hospitals, clinics and laboratories across Pakistan. Send us your requirements on WhatsApp and we will help you compare options.