October 11, 2006	Wednesday	Ramazan 17, 1427

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ISLAMABAD, Oct 10: The government is developing uniform guidelines to streamline the issuance and renewal of drug sale licences in order to eradicate spurious and expired medicines from the country.

A meeting to review steps for the elimination of spurious and substandard medicines was informed that out of 16,290 samples of drugs taken during the last four months, 63 were declared spurious while 494 were identified substandard. A fine of Rs8 million was imposed by different drug courts.

Presided over by Secretary Health Anwar Mehmood and attended by all the provincial health secretaries, directors-general health services, secretary health AJK and other officials, the meeting was called to review the steps initiated on the directive of the Supreme Court to eliminate spurious and expired drugs from the country.

During the last four months, 24,762 inspections of pharmaceutical units and medical stores were conducted while 16,290 samples of drugs were taken for test and analysis. During the inspections, 2,246 drugs were also seized, 280 cases of illegal advertisements reported and registered; 10,22 cases were filed in different drug courts, 84 raids were conducted, 41 accused persons arrested and a fine of Rs8 million was imposed by the drug courts, the meting was informed.

The meeting decided that an undertaking should be taken from pharmacists/qualified persons and the owner of the drug sale establishment at the time of grant or renewal of the licence, stating that no spurious and expired drugs will be sold on the premises.

A centralised system should also be developed in all the provinces for maintaining data regarding number of licences, their validity and type, name of pharmacist, qualified persons and proprietor.

It was also decided that in view of the Supreme Court orders, all provinces should review the existing system for grant of drug sale licences.

“Narcotics and psychotropic drugs should only be sold on prescription of registered medical practitioners and proper record thereof must be maintained.

“The sale of drugs must be ensured as per warranty prescribed under the rules. Variations in the test results of different drug testing laboratories also need to be resolved mutually by their respective directors and analysts in order to bring uniformity in test results.”

The drug inspectors must take a certificate from pharmacists and owners of the medical stores, stating that they have no spurious and expired drugs in their medical stores.

The heads of all the government hospitals both under the federal, provincial control and private institutions should give certificates through their respective pharmacists stating that there is no spurious and expired drug in their stores.

Laboratories on receipt of samples of drugs for appellate testing will immediately carry out testing and analysis without waiting merely for reasons of payments. However, they can claim for payment after testing and analysis.

The meeting also decided that all provincial health departments should upgrade their drug testing laboratories while the federal secretary health should hold inter-provincial meetings to review such processes.