March 17, 2002	Sunday	Muharram 2, 1423

Please Visit our Sponsor (Ads open in separate window).

LAHORE, March 16: The university of health sciences being established by the Punjab government will have all health-related departments including the faculty of pharmacy to produce much needed qualified pharmacists.

This was stated by health minister Prof Mahmood Ahmad at a seminar organized by a private pharmaceutical firm on ‘Good pharmaceutical retail practices’ here on Saturday.

The minister said that the university of health sciences would start functioning to provide quality education in various fields of healthcare.

Earlier, Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Dr Khalid Javed Chaudhry and pharmaceutical firm’s chief executive officer Zahid Rair highlighted the problems faced by drug manufacturers due to the harshness of the existing drug act and asked for making it more business-friendly.

Prof Mahmood Ahmad said that being a doctor he was aware of the difficulties being faced by the people involved in the pharmaceutical industry and assured that the government was certainly inclined to ensure smooth running of things in the larger national interest.

He said that the new drug sales policy would be formulated after taking the stake-holders and other people connected with pharmaceutical business into confidence. He asked them to come forward and make suggestions for the formulation of the policy which could be helpful in bringing about the desired improvement.

The minister said that the drug manufacturers and dealers should join hands with the government to ensure that malpractice could come to an end. He also expressed concern at high prices of drugs and hoped that this aspect would also be taken into consideration.

LCCI chief Dr Khalid Javaid Chaudhry, earlier, stated that the present drug act was extremely harsh. The pharmaceutical manufacturers, he pointed out, could be put behind bars and officials under this act were empowered to close down pharmaceutical units. The health ministry should do something about it in the larger interest of the industry.

The pharmaceutical firm’s chief executive officer said that a manufacturer was responsible for the production of quality drugs according to standards of good manufacturing practices whereas distributors, whole sellers and retailers were responsible for proper handling and quality of drugs while their dispensation to patients.