Chemists and druggists stage protest in Peshawar

PESHAWAR: The Pakistan Chemist and Druggist Association members on Tuesday blocked the Grand Trunk Road in the provincial capital for hours, inconveniencing the road users.

Carrying banners and placards, the protesters gathered on the GT Road, burned tyres and blocked it for traffic.

They criticized the PTI-led government for passing the drug rules 2017, which they termed an injustice with them.

Meanwhile, the Health Department of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa categorically rejected the protest, terming it baseless and based on selfish interests.

The Health Department, in a statement, clarified that the drug rules 2017 were approved after consultation with representatives from the Pakistan Chemist and Drug Association after which protest on the amended rules are uncalled for.

The statement added that the drug rules 2017 are aimed at providing citizens of the province with better healthcare services and ensuring that health practitioners in the province are qualified in their respective fields. Furthermore, the amendment in drug rules 1982 are aimed at curbing unprofessional medical practitioners and quacks from the province.

According to the statement, various incidents, including death of patients, have been reported in the past at hands of unauthorized and illegal medical practitioners due to which amendments in the rules were of paramount importance.