GUJRAT: The district administration has taken a strong exception to the notices issued to the wholesalers, manufacturers and importers of medicines, which asked them to stop supplies to the pharmacies of some private hospitals for not having licences.

Drug Inspector Punjab Ihsan Elahi Cheema (who sent the notices) has been sent on one month’s forced leave with immediate effect by Gujrat DCO Liaquat Ali Chattha. The DCO also ordered transfer of Mr Cheema to Sara-i-Alamgir, whereas Ataullah Rizvi, the drug inspector of Sara-i-Alamgir, has been posted as Gujrat tehsil drug inspector.

At a meeting of the District Quality Control Board at the district government complex on Wednesday, the Gujrat EDO health ordered suppliers of drugs to immediately restore the supplies to the pharmacies.

In a written assurance, the association of druggists and chemists has regretted the earlier decision of stopping supply to the local private hospitals.

The drug inspector and local chapter of the PMA have been engaged in a standoff for the last two months over the issue of licence for the pharmacies of some hospitals. The inspector says these pharmacies cannot function without a licence of health department, whereas the doctors say a registered medical practitioner does not need any licence to sell medicines.

Published in Dawn November 3rd, 2016