August 27, 2002	Tuesday	Jamadi-us-Saani 17,1423

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ISLAMABAD, Aug 26: A consumer protection watchdog on Monday has asked the cabinet to ensure that the proposed amendments in the Drug Act 1976 were public-friendly.

In a letter to the various ministers of the military government, The Network for consumer protection has expressed the fear that the way in which amendments in the Drug Act 1976 and deregulation of the pharmaceutical sector were being proposed by the health ministry, it was likely that the entire process would serve or benefit the pharmaceutical industry at the cost of patients.

It said almost half of the provisions of the Act which were related to the protection of the consumer’s interest had never been implemented in the past 26 years, thus turning the country into a “therapeutic jungle.”

“The situation leaves one in doubt about the need as well as the future implementation prospects of the proposed amendments.”

The letter also alleged that the current process of amendments lacked transparency and conflict of interest considerations.

“The public was not being informed about the changes being proposed in the Drug Act while the drafting process was allegedly mysterious, ambiguous and totally dominated by representatives of pharmaceutical industry and trade.”

“While we appreciate the government’s need to consider stakeholders’ point of view, including the industry and trade, they (industry and trade) should not be actually drafting the documents which was and should remain the prerogative of the government only,” the letter said.

It stressed the need to ensure proper representation of the consumer’s perspective in the review process.