ISLAMABAD: The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (Drap), along with the Rawalpindi drug department, conducted a raid in Faizabad, and seized medication being sold at 65pc mark up.

The medication was confiscated, and a case registered against the Peshawar-based pharmaceutical company. Five samples of other medications were also collected after doubts that they may be spurious.

According to a statement issued by the Ministry of National Health Services, a case of overpricing in violation of the 1976 Drug Act has been registered. The samples have been sent for testing to analyse the quality of the drugs.

As many as five Drap officials have been facing an FIA investigation in a forgery case. Four were arrested by FIA last week, and their physical remand was obtained by the agency, for allegedly issuing fake registration certificate to a pharmaceutical firm.

Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan CEO Dr Mohammad Aslam told Dawn that he had received complaints that some companies were selling medication at a price much higher than that approved by the authority.

“Price of the medication which was confiscated was Rs150, but on the packets it was stated to be Rs230,” he said.

“We have decided to set up a cell which will be functional by the end of December. People will be able to file their complaints regarding overpricing through e-mail or by telephone. The name of the complainant will not be disclosed,” he said.

Dr Aslam said he had placed a complaint box outside his office, the keys to which only he has, so that people may slip in their complaints.

He said he had not been able to implement his plans due to shortage of staff. “We are hiring 192 officials after which we will be able to take action more strictly,” he said.

Published in Dawn, November 29th, 2015