ISLAMABAD: The Drug Regulation Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) on Thursday said that from October 1 no one would be allowed to manufacture, import or export alternative drugs without obtaining an approval from it.

The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by the director health and over the counter (OTC), Dr Salim Khan.

It may be clarified that except allopathic all the drugs, including herbal, Unani and homeopathy, are called alternative medicines.

According to an official statement, Dr Khan said the alternative medicine industry was running unregulated till the promulgation of the Drug Regulatory Authority Act 2012.

“Efforts made in the past to regulate the industry were scuttled by influential people,” he said.

The medicines were regulated under the Drug and Cosmetics Act 1940 and drugs rules 1956 but later the categories were excluded at the time of the revision of the Act in 1976,” he said.

An official of DRAP requesting anonymity added that quacks were getting advantage of the absence of a regulation.

“They have been selling the unregistered medicines so no one knows about the ingredients of the drugs. The quacks are even not ready to register the formulas of medicines with the DRAP, so there are apprehensions that most of the quacks are selling steroids,” he said. Dr Salim said rules would be formulated to regulate the sector.

Public notices have been issued inviting applications for the enlistment of manufacturers, importers and their products.

“From October 1, no one would be allowed to manufacture, import or export these products unless approval is obtained from DRAP,” he said.

Published in Dawn, August 29th, 2014