ISLAMABAD: The Task Committee on the Availability of Drugs has said that provincial health departments will make scientific improvements to the supply chain system to ensure the availability of lifesaving drugs.

It has also been decided that public and private hospitals will be directed to develop hospital formularies based on the National Essential Medicine List (NEML), and each hospital will have qualified pharmacists to maintain the drugs inventory. Formularies are lists of medicines available in the hospitals.

Every country is required to prepare an NEML to list the minimum medicines needed for their healthcare system. The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan’s (Drap) Division of Pharmacy Services is responsible for continuing the process to update the NEML at the national level.

In January 2016, multinational companies had sought a stay order from the Sindh High Court and increased drug prices by arguing that it was not viable for them to manufacture medicines at the rate fixed by Drap.

The matter was discussed in the media and in parliament, after which Federal Ombudsman Salman Faruqi consisted a 13-member committee led by former surgeon general retired Lt Gen Mahmood Ahmad Akhtar to look into issues relating to the availability of essential drugs, with high standards in terms of efficacy, safety and quality at affordable prices.

According to a statement issued by the Ministry of National Health Services (NHS), during the task committee’s meeting Drap CEO Dr Sheikh Akhter Hussain briefed the meeting on the steps taken to comply with the recommendations in the federal ombudsman’s report. He said steps are being taken to ensure the availability of quality drugs as per World Health Organisation standards.

He said the authority has been working on an updated version of the International Pharmacopeia for the specification and testing of drugs. Moreover, he said, 2D barcoding is being implemented to ensure consumers purchase quality drugs after verification.

He said the disposal of pending cases of price fixation and drug registration has been prioritised, which has led to improvement.

In collaboration with provincial health departments, Drap is establishing a pharmacovigilance system in the country to monitor adverse reactions to drugs, he added. An online reporting portal is also available on the Drap website through which healthcare professionals, pharmaceutical companies and patients can submit reports related to drugs.

Published in Dawn, February 8th, 2018