Review for registration of essential drugs to be expedited

Islamabad: The Registration Board of the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP), which remains in the news for all the wrong reasons, has decided to expedite the review process for registration of essential and critically needed medicines like anti-cancer drugs, immune-suppressants, and anti-viral medicines for treatment of diseases like Hepatitis C, etc.

A decision to this effect was shared with participants of the task committee of the Ministry of Health to ensure availability of quality essential drugs at affordable prices. The newly appointed Chief Executive Officer of DRAP Dr. Sheikh Akhter Hussain, who faces an inquiry by the National Accountability Bureau for embezzlement of over Rs. 51 billion, chaired the meeting.

Also present on the occasion was Saeed Ullah Khan, Secretary Health Gilgit Baltistan, representatives of health departments of the provincial governments of Sindh and AJK, and Directors of DRAP. The meeting was told that 100 critically needed drugs have been registered over the last one year.

Dr. Akhter briefed the participants on the steps taken in compliance of the recommendations of the Federal Ombudsman’s report. These include the introduction of CTD as per WHO standardized format for drug registration, inclusion of updated version of International Pharmacopeia for specification and testing of drugs, 2D barcoding on pharmaceutical products’ packaging, PIC/S membership, establishment of Pharmacovigilance system, and disposal of pending cases of price fixation and registration of drugs, etc.

The meeting urged the provincial health departments to improve the supply chain system on a scientific basis to ensure availability of lifesaving drugs. Directions will be issued to all public and private hospitals to develop hospital formularies based on the National Essential Medicine list, it was agreed.