ISLAMABAD: After resolving issues with the National Institute of Health (NIH), the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (Drap) has finally decided to discuss the issue of constructing a purpose-build building for itself in the next meeting of the policy board.

“We have cleared almost Rs5 million which we owed to NIH for land, and now it has been decided to start construction of the building at the earliest,” Drap Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Asim Rauf told Dawn.

He said modalities have been finalised and a company, which has already built a number of public-sector buildings, has been contacted.

Successive health ministers had claimed that they would build the building, but not even its foundation stone was laid. It is hoped that once the multi-storey building is constructed, controversies regarding drug-related issues would be addressed. Moreover Drap will be able to save over Rs5 million per month which is being paid as rent for the present building in G-9. The new building, having six or seven storeys, will be constructed on a 20-kanal plot allocated at NIH.

The authority had been funtioning in rented building in G-9

After the 18th Constitutional Amendment in 2010, the health sector became a provincial subject and Drug Registration Board became defunct. A registration board was established again under Drap Act 2012. The authority started working in different offices, some of them were in C Block of Pak Secretariat, where only ministries were allowed to have offices. The authority’s management was under immense pressure to vacate the buildings. Some of the offices of Drap were even located in a rented building in Blue Area.

An official of Drap, requesting not to be quoted, said that in early 2013 it was decided that a building should be hired to shift all offices in one place. A building spread over 30,000 square feet was then rented for Rs4.6 million in G-9. The building’s rent increased over the years. However, Drap came under severe criticism for spending such a high amount from the exchequer on rent.

In view of the criticism, the then NHS minister, Saira Afzal Tarar, in July 2014 announced that a process would be started to acquire 20 kanals to construct a building and shift Drap there within two years.

“However not even the foundation stone was laid during her tenure. During the present government, former health minister Aamir Mehmood Kiani also announced that a building would be built soon but nothing materialised.

When Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) on Health Dr Zafar Mirza was informed about the issue, he assured the relevant authorities that the possession of land would be acquired and a foundation stone laid,” the official said.

Ministry of National Health Services spokesperson Sajid Shah, while talking to Dawn, said it had been decided to construct the building under international protocols.

“Automated system would be introduced in the building due to which only authorised persons would be able to enter and visit the building. There will be a mechanism of record keeping. One of the floors would be allocated for Pakistan Pharmacy Council as pharmacists have a direct link with Drap,” he said.

“Currently we are paying over Rs5 million per month as rent for the building, which is not purpose built. So once the building is built, we will be able to save Rs5 million every month and all the issues would also be streamlined,” he said.

Mr Shah said Drap had decided to buy 85 computers as in future paperless environment would be introduced. He said Dr Mirza was of the opinion that the building should be constructed at the earliest so that rent could be saved and performance of Drap improved.

It is worth mentioning that in January this year Dr. Mirza laid a foundation stone and said the building would be completed in June 2021.

He claimed that it was part of a major initiative to revamp the authority and run it on modern lines as per the best practices.

Published in Dawn, May 24th, 2020