Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) has held a second session of World Health Organisation (WHO) Prequalification and Export Opportunities in Lahore to educate and encourage the existing and potential exporters to capitalise on the assistance provided by WHO Pakistan for WHO prequalification. WHO prequalification will not only open many markets for Pakistani pharmaceutical products in the world but also allow our national companies to participate in the bidding process of procurement made by WHO Pakistan for the common man.
The session was organised by TDAP Karachi Pharma Cell and presided by Director General- SRO (TDAP, Lahore). WHO Country Advisor based in Islamabad gave a detailed and comprehensive presentation on WHO Prequalification Program highlighting the importance and benefits of WHO prequalification. The session was attended by 000Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers’ Association (PPMA) vice-chairman and 40 representatives of 30 leading pharmaceutical companies.
PPMA chairman and WHO Country Advisor lauded the efforts made by TDAP in highlighting the need of international accreditations. It is worth mentioning that exports of the pharmaceutical sector registered 38 percent growth in the Fiscal Year 2009-10. However, due to imminent stringent regulatory requirements in the existing export markets of Pakistan, the retention and development of markets seems to be a Gordian knot.
Presently, India is supplying 97 percent of medicine to WHO throughout the world as it boasts of the highest number of WHO prequalified companies in the region.