ISLAMABAD: The federal and provincial authorities have registered more than 1600 cases against manufacturers and sellers found in violations of relevant law under a special campaign to curb spurious and unregistered drugs.
The basic purpose is to ensure quality and availability of necessary medicines in the country and to achieve the good results, the authorities concerned have increased the number of Inspectors of Drugs from 14 to 21 for further strengthening implementation of DRAP Act, 2012.
Highlighting the steps, sources at National Health Services Division on Sunday the Federal government has notified Bar Coding System (Serialization) for prompt tracing and tracking of spurious/counterfeit drugs at every level. But it is yet to be fully implemented.
Legislation procedure of registration of drugs has been upgraded in accordance with international guidelines that will enable to obtain more information on active pharmaceutical ingredients, manufacturing and analysis methods and product characteristics etc that will enhance product quality.
Moreover, the sources said Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) has increased coordination with Provincial Health departments while a National Task Force has been constituted for eradication of spurious and un-registered drugs.
DRAP is in phase of its accreditation/certification from World Health Organization (WHO) and in this regard, it (DRAP) has achieved level-II (Reactive Approach) of World Health Organization’s (WHO) National Regulatory Authority (NRA) and Global Benchmarking Tool (GBT).
DRAP is now applying for level-III (Stable Formal System approach) compliance assessment by WHO which endorses that NRA has systematic regulatory approach and function with essential capacity are implemented.
The sources said a committee on “availability of medicines” has been constituted by DRAP which monitors and ensures availability of necessary medicines in the country.
DRAP is always vigilant to avoid any unjustified shortages of drugs on part of manufacturer/importer and is in continuous connect with manufacturers and importers regarding non-availability of medicines.
The regulatory body also conducts surveys through Inspector of Drugs, the sources said and added in most cases, alternate generic medicines are also made available in market.