LAHORE, Jan 2: Amendments to the Drug Rules of 2007 have not been finalised as the Punjab government’s committee, formed for the purpose on Oct 5, has failed to hold a single meeting.

The five-member committee, headed by Health Department Special Secretary Dr Ahmad Balal, was supposed to consult all stakeholders and submit its recommendations to the health ministry for decision.

Former Punjab health minister Chaudhry Iqbal also assured the chemists that their grievances would be redressed.

According to Punjab Chemists Council President Nisar Chaudhry, the committee’s failure to meet even for a single time shows the bureaucracy does not want to resolve the issue. He said the drug rules of 1988 were more comprehensive from the new ones. He demanded the new rules either be withdrawn or amended.

Mr Chaudhry said before the notification of the new drug rules, the authorities had not consulted any stakeholder. He said the new rules had been formed to bar medical stores from selling a good number of essential drugs. The period of renewal of license had been reduced from two to one year, he added.

In a letter to the provincial health minister, the health secretary and the special secretary (health), the Punjab Chemists Council says the drug act of 1976 describes the role of retailers, wholesalers and distributors whereas the Drug Rules of 2007 allow only two types of licenses.

“The new rules deal in the sale of drugs and not explain under which system the supply of drugs to pharmacies and medical stores will be made.”

The council said under the new rules, pharmacies seemed to be semi-manufacturing units, and it was not possible to work under the condition of Schedule F. Besides the Schedule G was detrimental to medical stores business, it added.