Advisor to Chief Minister Punjab on Health Kh. Salman Rafique has said that concrete steps have been taken to eradicate spurious and substandard medicines from the province.
Addressing the concluding session of the international workshop on ensuring the supply of quality medicines organised by Punjab Health Department in collaboration with Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (PPMA) at a local hotel, Rafique said on Thursday that besides up-gradation of drug testing laboratories, the government was introducing amendments in drugs laws to increase punishment for culprits. He said that provision of quality medicines is the goal of the government.
Rafique said that Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has constituted task forces on spurious drugs which have carried out thousands of operations across the province and six hundred FIRs were registered against the culprits. He said that organising the international workshop is also a milestone to take concrete steps towards elimination of illegal business of spurious and substandard medicines.
While addressing the workshop, Parliamentary Secretary Health and Vice Chairman of Chief Minister’s Task Force Kh. Imran Nazir said that the first international workshop on ensuring quality medicines in the history of Pakistan is being held due to the efforts of the Punjab government. He said that it is a good omen that the government, pharmaceutical industry, experts and all other stakeholders are on the same page and determined to ensure quality medicines for the people.
On this occasion, representative of Global Security USA John P Clark, Tetsuya Ikeda from Japan and other foreign delegates, PPMA Chairman Hamid Raza, Ali Jawa, Javed Nisar Syed, Dr Naeem ud Din Mian, DRAP CEO Dr Muhammad Aslam and others also addressed the workshop.
Earlier, State Minister on National Health Saira Afzal Tarar chaired the inaugural session of the international workshop. She said that the pharmaceutical industry had grown in the country and was ready to face any challenge. Tarar said that none of the licensed pharma units are involved in the illegal business of manufacturing spurious drugs. However, special attention should be focused on quality of medicines. She appreciated the initiative of the Punjab government for holding the international workshop and said that Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif always takes lead in taking new initiatives for the welfare of the people of Punjab.
Secretary Primary and Secondary Health Ali Jan Khan also spoke on the occasion and said that during the last three years billions of rupees have been spent on the up-gradation of drug testing laboratories and installation of latest equipments. He said that buildings and modern equipments are not sufficient and that there should be an automated system so that the health department does not wait for instructions from high ups before taking any steps. Ali Jan Khan claimed that some pharmaceutical units produce medicines only to supply to the government functionaries.
Secretary Specialized Healthcare Najam Ahmed Shah, Commissioner Lahore Abdullah Khan Sumbal, senior officers of the Health Department and a number of representatives from pharmaceutical industry attended the workshop.
