ISLAMABAD: Prime Mi­­n­ister Imran Khan directed the ministry of health on Wednesday to split the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (Drap) into two wings — one for policy-making and the other for enforcement of policies.

The prime minister gave the directives during a meeting in which he reviewed the drug regulator’s performance in the wake of increasing complaints about irregularities that allegedly caused troubles to both consumers and manufacturers.

A source privy to the meeting told Dawn that the prime minister took a serious note of the alleged irregularities and decided to break up Drap into two wings.

The prime minister was informed that Drap was understaffed at present as only five directors were working against a sanctioned strength of 13.

The authority is a federal government department which registers and fixes prices of medicines and ensures their availability.

Regarding fixing of drug prices, Mr Khan directed Drap to determine prices through a proper procedure.

He said the government was determined to ensure easy availability of life-saving drugs, along with other essential medicines, at affordable prices because it attached high priority to public health.

The prime minister was given a briefing on the availability of essential medicines, especially life-saving drugs and the price mechanism.

The meeting was attended, among others, by Special Assistant to the PM on Health Dr Zafar Mirza, Attorney General Khalid Javed Khan, the National Health Services secretary and the chief of Drap.

According to the Prime Minister Office, Mr Khan said efforts for making Drap more efficient should be expedited and the manpower requirement of the authority be addressed on a priority basis.

The meeting also reviewed issues pertaining to the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council.

The prime minister directed the authorities concerned to ensure implementation of the courts’ directives regarding problems faced by doctors and others associated with this sector.

Published in Dawn, March 19th, 2020