KARACHI: Caretaker Federal Minister for National Health Services Dr Nadeem Jan has said a drug app had been launched to ensure online availability of medicines.

He said that his ministry took measures to ensure registration of sugar, blood pressure and life-saving medi­cines on emergency basis.

Expressing his views during his visit to Karachi Drug Testing Laboratory, the minister said that he had laid foundation stone of large-scale reforms in the ministry of health services in a short period of time.

Dr Jan said it was his priority to keep the cost of medicines within the reach of common man and that the caretaker government would not allow the sale and hoarding of substandard medicines.

Concerted steps had also been taken to make the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (Drap) public friendly, he said.

The facility of testing medical equipment was now available in the laboratory, he said, adding that the registration and licensing system in Drap had been digitised and coordinated measures to promote merit and transparency had been ensured.

The minister added that effective measures had been taken to ensure supply of quality medicines and major reforms had been introduced to Drap

in a short period of time and practical measures were ensured to eliminate fake and unregistered medicin­es and to increase exports.

Published in Dawn, February 15th, 2024