ISLAMABAD, Sept 30: The representatives of the pharmaceutical industry have protested over the proposal to amend the Drugs Act 1976.

An official source told Dawn that the representatives of the drug manufacturers, during a recent meeting at the Industries ministry, had registered their protest by declaring the proposed amendments as unfriendly for the entire pharmaceutical industry.

The meeting was called by Minister for Industries and Commerce Abdul Razak Dawood soon after President Pervez Musharraf directed the authorities concerned to implement the pharmaceutical policy being pursued by the Industries ministry. Under the policy, the ministry is empowered to regulate drug pricing.

Representatives of both multinational as well as local pharmaceutical industries attended the meeting.

The meeting was told that the amendments in the Drugs Act 1976 would soon be finalized. At this the representatives of the pharmaceutical industry said the amendments were contrary to the earlier policies adopted by the government. They also pointed out different lacunas in the law and forwarded their proposal in this regard.

The source said different pharmaceutical bodies were also considering to launch a campaign against these amendments.

He said the representatives were of the view that the proposed amendments would destroy the entire pharmaceutical industry which had contributed to the development of the industrial sector.

He said it was being proposed that the penalty for marketing expired drugs should be increased from five-year imprisonment with a fine of Rs50,000 to 10-year imprisonment and a fine of Rs500,000.

Similarly, the amendments place restrictions on the storage condition of medicines and selling of drugs above maximum retail price. The present law has nothing to suggest about these situations.

The penalty for providing incomplete, misleading or incorrect information has also been enhanced from a five-year jail term and a fine of Rs50,000 to 10-year imprisonment with a fine of Rs500,000.

At present, there is no provision in the law under which the Provincial Quality Control Board (PQCB) can suspend manufacturing license of a drug manufacturer. Under the new amendments, it is being proposed that the PQCB being authorized in this regard.

Only drug inspectors have the power to take samples of drugs, but it is being proposed that even a consumer or a consumer organization be given the power to draw samples of medicines.

However, the new amendment suggested deletion of section 27(1) from the Drug Act, which dealt with the provision of discretionary powers of a drug court to reduce imprisonment to less than three years.

Similarly, it was being proposed to enhance the penalty to 10 years imprisonment and a fine of Rs500,000 for providing incorrect batch numbers and misrepresentation.