ISLAMABAD, Nov 19: Federal health regulators recovered spurious or substandard medicines from nine medical stores of the capital during surprise checks in the last two years from April 2006 to February 2008.

In a written reply to a question of MNA Dr Nahid Shahid Ali, Health Minister Mir Aijaz Hussain Jakhrani told the National Assembly on Wednesday that these raids or surprise inspections were conducted on complaints or tip-off about violations of the Drug Act 1976.

In addition to this a schedule of inspections has also been prepared by the drug inspector of the health department (ICT) on monthly basis and random inspections were carried out in accordance with the schedule, the minister informed, adding that random sampling of drugs were conducted by the officers of the health department, Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), to monitor the quality of drugs.

The complaints about spurious drugs were so rampant that even a Supreme Court bench, headed by deposed Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, had ordered the federal government in April 2006 to develop a comprehensive policy and guidelines to check trade in spurious drugs.

Describing the sale of spurious drugs as a crime against society, a Senate standing committee on interior in July last had asked for coordinated efforts to root out the menace of spurious drugs.

Through these raids, three spurious medicines namely Flumicon, Enres and Sampro were recovered from Al-Mezab Pharma, United Centre Islamabad, on April 15, 2006, while Neocol, Doctoyl and Frusicon were recovered from the same store in another raid on April 26, 2006. Likewise Ethicon Prolene Sutures was found from Frontier Chemists G-8 Markaz on June 6, 2006 and a substandard injection Amoxin from B.M. Brothers, United Centre Islamabad, on the same date.

Another substandard injection Meproxifen 50 ml, was recovered from Tamman Medical Store at Tarnol on November 13, 2006, while substandard surgical cotton wool was found from Tanti Chemist, F-10 Markaz, on December 18, 2006. Spurious surgical bandages were also recovered from the District Population Welfare Office on February 20, 2007.

Interestingly substandard tablets of calcium lactate were found from stores of the health department Islamabad on June 15, 2007 while adulterated bottles of Listerine Antiseptic Solution and Etaphylline Cough Syrup were recovered from Med Help Chemists, F-10 Markaz, on Feburary 9, 2008.

Spurious Technosin TD powder was also recovered from Allied Poultry Breaders, Chak Shahzad, on February 23, 2008.

In addition to that, two drug manufacturing companies namely Robins Pharmaceuticals and Lloyd’s Pharmaceuticals were also found to be involved in the manufacturing/sale of spurious Lozone injections during 2006-07.

Subsequently their licences to manufacture drugs as well as drug registration were suspended for one year while there cases are still pending before the drug court Rawalpindi.

Replying to another question, the minister conceded that the government had no authority to regulate the manufacturing or sale of homoeopathy medicines or of Tibb-i-Unani and Hikmat.

Therefore in the absence of a comprehensive regulatory mechanism, there is a possibility of availability of some harmful drugs in the market, the minister said.

A proposed bill titled Unani Ayurvedic, Homoeopoathic, Herbal and other Non-allopathic Medicines Act 2005 was tabled before the last National Assembly for approval to regulate the manufacture, import, export, storage, distribution and sale of these medicines. Since the law could not be adopted, a new law with certain amendments after consultation with stakeholders is again being submitted to the cabinet and the legislature for approval.