SCCI demands withdrawal of recent amendments to DRA Act

Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) demanded of the government to withdraw the amendments in the Drug Regulatory Authority Act, recently made by provincial assembly of Punjab, and to make any changes in the laws with proper consultations of relevant stakeholders.
Addressing at a news conference at the chamber house on Monday, SCCI Acting president Mohammad Iqbal said the Drug Regulatory Authority (amend) Act, was recently promulgated through provincial assembly of Punjab, which was aimed at setting up a separate DRA in the province.
Following the amendments in the Act, he said the pharmaceutical industry would face severe crisis situation, adding the move would also raise issues relating to registration of medicines, prices determination, marketing and selling of drugs at local shops.
Flanked by the head of Pakistan Pharmaceutical Industries, industrialists, office bearers of Pakistan Drug and Chemist Association, Iqbal said the amendments would not only affect the pharmaceutical sector directly, but the step would be contrary to Federal Drug Regulatory Authority Act.
He went on to say that the pharmaceutical industry availed full protection in context of matters relating to regulatory, price determination, marketing, production, supply and distribution under Federal DRA, adding no amendments were made by provincial governments in the Federal DRA Act.
He strongly opposed the step of Punjab government, which could create uncertain situation regarding availability of standardised medicines in market, while local pharmaceutical industry would be unprotected. Iqbal said the powers had been transferred under the 18th constitutional amendments to all federating units, which was authorised to provinces for setting up DRA at provincial level. However, he said the establishment of DRA at provincial level was opposed by respective legislative assemblies of the provinces, and passed resolutions in that regard, to keep intact the DRA with Centre.
SCCI acting president said the move of Punjab government to establish own DRA was irrational, which merely aimed at only supporting the multi-national pharmaceutical companies because the local industries would inflict huge financial losses. Besides, he added the local medical stores would also be closed that generated massive joblessness.
He demanded of Federal government, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Federal Minister for Health, and other officials concerned to immediately withdraw the recent amendment in the DRA Act.
SCCI President expressed concern over closure of Category C along with sending of summaries to chief secretary, which was sheer unjust with chemists. He demanded of Chief Minister Pervez Khattak to take notice of summaries, moved to Chief Secretary by provincial health departments against chemists' community, and action should be taken against the officials concerned in this respect.