Banned medicines being sold openly

Despite government's decision to ban metamizole due to its injurious side effects, several other medicines containing similar ingredients are being openly sold in the market.
Few days ago, the government had banned the metamizole that is a fever and pain medicine commonly known by its brand name Novalgin. The drug was introduced in Pakistan when it was already banned in most of the developed countries.
At the moment, more than 15 drug brands containing the similar formula are openly available in the market.
According to a survey conducted by The Network for Consumer Protection an NGO, people were still being prescribed such medicines that should be banned immediately.
The NGO has been campaigning for banning such medicines since long and is of the view that yet to be done a lot in order to protect the consumers from dangerous and outdated pharmaceutical products.
Brand names in this connection compiled by the NGO include Amsidal, Barbidol, Medinol, Pepzym, Plasenzyme, Danoxon, Diarrazole, Eatone, Emil, Furadil, Sumazone, Zefdil, Actifed DM, Benyline E, Corex-D, Cosome, Nicor, Kofnil-D, Floxone, Furazole, Kaltin, Kaomagma, Kaoplex, Apquin, Daragon, Generic Tabs, Iodogil, Lodomet and Metodine Susp.
It is worth mentioning that the decision puts a complete ban on import, manufacture or sale of all metamizole containing products in the country with immediate effect.
All the existing stocks of such drugs across the country must be destroyed by the manufacturers with intimation and proof to the Ministry of Health within a period of 14 days from the date of ban.
The metamizole was introduced in Pakistan and around the world by the German multinational Hoechst in the early 1970's and it soon became a drug of choice with doctors for reducing high fever.
Available in all dosage forms (tablet, capsule, syrup and injection) it captured the market and enjoyed a lions share throughout the world until reports of its deadly side-effects were first emerged in the late seventies.
It was in 1977 that US government's Food and Drug Administration banned the drug for causing a blood cancer like effect in roughly one out of 30,000 consumers of the drug.
It has been witnessed that the drug destroys white blood cells thus decreasing human immunity against diseases and infections.
The Network has thus shown concerns about the ability of the government to implement the decision according to the provisions of the law in making it extinct in the market.