ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of National Health Services (NHS) has finally replied to a complaint alleging corruption in the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (Drap) after 22 months.

The ministry declared the complaint a time limited case and sought proof against officials of Drap within seven days.

A letter of the ministry, dated January 2, and available with Dawn, shows that the application was filed in March 2022. A copy of the application was also sent to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on which NAB sought a clarification from the health ministry on October 30, 2023.

The letter stated that NAB had referred the matter to the ministry of NHS for necessary action. The complainant, Mohammad Usman, has been requested to submit the complaint on a stamp paper along with a copy of CNIC/affidavit and with solid proof/supporting documents as evidence of the complaint within seven days.

The complainant sent a reply to the ministry, stating the application had been sent to a number of departments, including the health ministry, in March 2022 and later it was published in national media. He claimed that after filing the application he himself visited the ministry a number of times but no one bothered to give any response to him or take action.

He said Drap had registered Paracetamol 665mg despite the fact that it had been banned in Europe since February 2018 due to deaths and liver failure. Moreover, he alleged that Drap registered the medicine at over three times higher rates compared to Paracetamol 500mg.

The complainant requested that under Article 19A of Constitution he be informed that who was the inquiry officer in the case and what was the goal behind demanding an affidavit/statement on stamp paper as written and signed complaints were accepted even in NAB and court of law.

He asked whether the inquiry will reach any conclusion or the practice was being made just to answer the letter of NAB. The applicant also asked for clarifications if Drap had taken any concrete action against the officials, especially authority’s former chief executive officer (CEO) whose fake degree was proved and he was removed by the federal cabinet on the directions of Islamabad High Court.

“I will be highly obliged if you would find some time to reply the above questions. We are always available to assist you to eradicate corruption from Drap in the best interest of poor Pakistanis. We can also assist you to develop and establish raw material manufacturing units in Pakistan to save foreign exchange,” Mr Usman said.

Published in Dawn, January 8th, 2024