1976 medical stocks seized; 37 establishments sealed

Islamabad: With the month-long drive against spurious and unregistered drugs continuing, 191 raids were conducted over last week, leading to seizure of 1,976 stocks in 64 premises on account of violation of the DRAP and Drug acts.

As many as 37 establishments including medical stores, pharmacies and distributors have been sealed; four FIRs were lodged and further permission to lodge 2 FIRs has been sought from the Quality Control Board of the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP).

“The drive, which started on March 19, is moving in the right direction, with all provinces including Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir participating. The National Task Force is submitting a daily activity report to the DRAP head office,” a press release issued by DRAP informs.

The campaign against spurious drugs was initiated, not by DRAP itself, but on the directions of the Supreme Court of Pakistan. DRAP has requested the general to share information about any person, medical store, pharmacy, distributor or manufacturer involved in manufacturing or sale of unregistered, substandard and spurious drugs. Medical stores and pharmacy owners have been instructed not to purchase any medicine without legal bill warranty. Printing presses vendors have also been warned to print packing material of registered medicines of licensed manufacturers only. The measures have been taken in the aftermath of the Supreme Court’s intervention to protect the ailing population from disease, disability and death.