Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) Saturday appreciated the government’s decision to form a much-needed Drug Regulatory Authority saying the early establishment of the authority would help ensure availability of quality medicines to the people at cheaper rates.
While talking to a delegation of pharmaceutical industry, LCCI President Irfan Qaiser Sheikh said pharmaceutical sector was facing a lot of troubles due to non-functioning of the Drug Regulatory Authority. He said the government decision would not only save the businessmen from a huge loss on account of imported raw materials and finished medicines, but would also help check the shortage of life saving drugs.
LCCI President hoped pharmaceutical industry would extend every possible help and cooperation to the government for early establishment of Drug Regulatory Authority as it is need of the hour. It is pertinent to mention here that President Asif Ali Zardari on Friday promulgated an Ordinance to form the ‘Drug Regulatory Authority’ after all provinces gave it the mandatory green light. As stated in the Ordinance, the drug watchdog will consist of 14 members, including all provincial health secretaries, and is tasked with regulating countrywide manufacturing, licensing, registration and sale of drugs in line with Drugs Act, 1976. Headed by the chief executive officer, DRA will have one technical representative, each of the federal government, doctors, pharmacists and pharmaceutical industry.
With headquarters in Islamabad, it will work under the administrative control of the secretary of the cabinet division. Under Article 147 of the constitution, the central drug watchdog can
be established only after the provinces’ concurrence and approval. Sindh, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa gave it a green signal long ago. And Punjab followed suit on Wednesday by getting a resolution passed by the provincial assembly in its favour.
