The federal ombudsman on Sunday constituted a special committee to identify the reasons for not fully implementing the Essential Drug Scheme (EDS).
Wafaqi Mohtasib M Salman Faruqui took prompt action after taking cognisance of artificial dearth of life-saving drugs and hike in their prices.
The committee would also study the current situation of the essential drugs in public and private sectors and suggest the mechanism for prompt implementation of Essential Drug Scheme.
Lt Gen (r) Mahmood Ahmad Akhtar, who is former Surgeon General of Pakistan Army, would be the chairman of the 13-member committee while Senior Advisor Wafaqi Mohtasib Secretariat Jaweed Akhtar would be its secretary.
The committee would also recommend measures to address the issue relating to availability of life saving drugs having high standards in terms of quality and safety at affordable prices.
The other members of the committee included Prof. Dr. Shabbir Ahmad Lehri, President, Pakistan Medical Dental Council, Prof. Khawaja Sadiq Hussain, former Principal King Edward Medical College Lahore and President of College of Physician and Surgeons of Pakistan, Maj. Gen (Retd) Zaheer ud din, former Director General (Medicine) Pakistan Army and Principal Army Medical College, Imtiaz Inayat Elahi, former Federal Secretary, Capital Administration & Development Division (CADD) and Ministry of National Health Services Regulations and Coordination, Islamabad, Dr. Inam ul Haq, former Drug Controller and Chairman Quality Control Authority and Dean and Director Riphah Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Dr. Muhammad Aslam, CEO Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan, Brig. (Retd) Dr.A.A.Najmi, Prof. Fauji Foundation Medical College, Rawalpindi, Yasin Malik, CEO Hilton Pharma Pvt Ltd, Karachi, Khalid Mehmood, Chairman Getz Forma, Muhammad Zakar, Managing Director Schazoo Laboratories Ltd, Salman Burney, former Chairman Glaxos, Laboratories and Asif Aziz Akhai, Senior Vice Chairman.