ISLAMABAD: The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (Drap) has asked provincial governments to strictly comply with drug sales rules for medicines containing controlled substances.

They have been directed to ensure that the pharmacies and distributors maintain the record of the medicines and they are not sold to patients without prescription.

An official of Drap, who is not authorised to speak on record, said the medicines containing controlled substances such as tranquilisers could not be sold without prescription.

“Moreover, distributors and pharmacies have to maintain the record of the sale of the medicines containing controlled substances, but it is hardly implemented in most of the areas of country,” he said.

While replying to a question he said the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) allocates quotas for the countries and then countries distribute that substance, which is also called Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API), according to the requirements.

“However it is observed that in Pakistan law is only implemented in federal capital and some other urban areas. In most of the parts of the country API is sold to patients without prescription. Drap has been trying to stop the sale of the API,” he said.

According to a statement issued by Drap Chairmen of Provincial Quality Control Boards of Punjab, Sindh, KP, Balochistan, Gilgit Baltistan and AJK have been asked to ensure strict compliance with the drug sales rules particularly related to the sales of medicines containing controlled substances.

The Drap spokesperson said the authority was taking steps to improve the legitimate use of controlled medicines and to stop its misuse.

“It has been observed that pharmacies and distributors are not maintaining proper sale record of medicines/products containing controlled substances according to respective provincial drug sale rules.

Published in Dawn, February 20th, 2018