ISLAMABAD: After formation of the National Task Force (NTF) for eradication of spurious drugs, over 1,700 cases were registered against the manufacturers and sellers, according to a document submitted to the National Assembly.

Moreover, 200 cases were lodged against manufacturers and sellers of spurious/unregistered drugs across the country.

The information was submitted to the assembly in reply to a question asked by Member National Assembly (MNA) Nusrat Wahid. The MNA asked if the government was taking steps to control spurious drugs.

Ministry increases number of drug inspectors to further strengthen implementation of Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan Act 2012, document says

The document, available with Dawn, states that the Ministry of National Health Services had increased the number of drug inspectors from 14 to 21 to further strengthen the implementation of Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan Act 2012.

Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (Drap) spokesman Akhtar Abbas told Dawn that the NTF was established in the first quarter of 2018 and later the campaign against spurious drugs was expedited.

The Supreme Court and stakeholders also pushed Drap to eradicate spurious drugs, he said.

“Moreover, we got a freehand to take action against mafias involved in the sale of spurious drugs.”

He said 4,568 inspections were held; 3,117 regulatory actions taken and manufacturers/sellers were directed to address the violations.

Besides, 1,758 severe violations were observed and the violators fined. Around 214 cases were also registered against companies involved in manufacturing of spurious drugs, he added.

The document adds that since 2017 over 80,000 samples were tested that found 1,500 samples substandard and 100 spurious. As many as 4,000 cases were sent to drug courts and 1,500 of them were decided. Fines amounting to Rs60 million were imposed on manufacturers/sellers and over two dozen licences suspended/cancelled.

The government has notified a bar coding system for prompt identification of spurious/counterfeit drugs.

The legislation procedure of registration of drugs has been upgraded in accordance with international guidelines that will facilitate in obtaining more information on active pharmaceutical ingredients, manufacturing and analysis methods and products characteristics that will enhance the product quality.

“Drap is in phase of its accreditation from World health Organisation (WHO) and has achieved level II (reactive approach) of WHO’s national regulatory authority (NRA) and global benchmarking. Drap is now applying for level III compliance assessment by WHO,” it states.

The spokesman said after achieving the level III compliance assessment, it would become possible for Pakistan to export medicines without facing any difficulty.

Published in Dawn, February 18th, 2019