ISLAMABAD, April 6 Health Minister Makhdoom Shahabuddin told the Senate on Tuesday that only 0.45 per cent of 50,000 drug samples tested by his ministry had been found to be spurious.

Responding to criticism by over a dozen senators who said the government was unable to take action against the so-called 'drug mafia' involved in spreading spurious drugs and playing havoc with people's health, Mr Shahabuddin said his ministry had tested 50,000 samples, while only 15,000 samples had been tested in India.

The minister welcomed a proposal that new drug inspectors should be recruited and equipped to curb the sale of substandard or spurious drugs.

He promised to investigate complaints that some shopkeepers were selling substandard medicines in government hospitals.

He said complaints were mostly received about substandard, and not spurious, drugs.

He asked lawmakers to provide evidence against the 'drug mafia'. The minister also promised to get maximum allocation for health in the upcoming budget.

During a debate on an adjournment motion moved by Muttahida Qaumi Movement's Haseeb Khan, several senators called upon the government to be vigilant against the 'drug mafia' and bring its members to book.

Awami National Party's parliamentary leader Haji Mohammad Adeel said spurious drugs were manufactured all over the country and there were large markets dealing in them. He said expired medicines were being sold in Lahore.

Ismail Buledi of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam demanded action against officials of the health ministry who, he alleged, were colluding with the mafia.

Pakistan Muslim League-N's parliamentary leader Ishaq Dar alleged that import of spurious and expired medicines was rampant.

He said presence of 3 per cent mercury in vaccines for children had caused extreme complications.

Leader of the Opposition Wasim Sajjad said the 1976 Drug Act needed to be made more effective and then implemented.

Col (retd) Tahir Hussain Mashhadi of the MQM demanded immediate action against quacks who were also involved in manufacturing indigenous drugs which were injurious to health.

Prof Khurshid Ahmad of Jamaat-i-Islami said spurious drugs were being openly sold and the inspection system was either corrupt or inept.

Jamal Leghari of the PML-Q demanded recruitment of new drug inspectors with better capacities and training.

Zahid Khan of the ANP, who is a member of the house committee on health, alleged that corruption was rampant in the ministry.

He said the committee had asked the health department to auction 15 surplus vehicles but they were distributed among officials.

Salim Saifullah Khan of the PML (Likeminded) said developed countries like the United States and United Kingdom knew the benefits of national health, while Pakistan was making a meagre investment in the sector.

He called for setting up a drug regulatory body to ensure that patients got standard medicines in government and private hospitals.

Earlier, addressing a meeting of the House Business Advisory Committee held to discuss modalities of the 60th session of the Senate, Chairman Farooq H. Naek expressed delight over the introduction of 18th amendment bill in parliament. He said it was a historic, consensus document symbolising the sovereignty of parliament.