PESHAWAR, Oct 18: The government’s move to set up the Drug Regulatory Authority, as an autonomous body in health sector, is deceptive and has loopholes in its framework.

This was stated by Ayaz Kiani, executive coordinator of The Network for Consumer Protection, at a press conference at the press club on Wednesday. Pharmaceutical Coordinator Tauqir Mustafa of the group was also present on the occasion.

He said that civil society saw the new authority as eyewash and an attempt to divert the attention of the people from real health issues. “There is nothing new in the proposed authority. Instead of providing any measures to improve regulation it seems to serve the pharmaceutical industry at the cost of public interest,” he said.

“It seems that the government wants to register some activism in health sector in the context of Supreme Court’s suo motu notice against spurious drugs and a growing awareness among the masses about the dismal picture in the health sector and the DRA rhetoric provides enough space to trumpet the steps,” he said.

“The Drug Control Organisation, which is being replaced by the new authority, could have been used effectively if the rules and provisions provided in the Drug Act of 1976 were implemented in letter and spirit,” he remarked.

Mr Mustafa said the government was deliberately loosening its grip on regulation and was handing it over to the private sector.