Drug authority law likely to lapse next month

There is a likelihood that the Drug Regulatory Agency Ordinance (DRAO) would lapse by next month as it has not yet been presented in the National Assembly since its promulgation on February 16 this year. Criticising government inaction in this regard, sources said that the law should have been presented in the National Assembly for its conversion into an act.
Talking to this correspondent in the International Pharmacy Conference, organised by Pakistan Pharmacist Association (PPA), they said that President Asif Ali Zardari established the Drug Regulatory Agency after the promulgation of DRAO on February 16.
"The law should have been presented in the lower house within three months after its promulgation. Two months have since passed, but the government has so far taken no step in this regard. The ordinance would lapse after May 16," sources said. There were about 400 pharmaceutical units and nearly 70,000 drugs registered in the country. The DRA, they said, had been formed to control the pricing of drugs, quality assurance, import/export and issuing licences to drug manufacturers. "No one knows what would happen to DRA after the lapse of the DRAO," sources said.
Faridullah Khan, of the Ministry of National Regulation and Service, General Secretary PPA Sardar Shabbir and Vice-President of PPA Professor Dr Azhar Hussain were among the participants of the conference. Faridullah said: "We should not forget the public health aspect while designing any health model."
A acknowledging the role of pharmacists in the country, he assured that the government would continue to support pharmacists. Pharmaceutical industry, he said, was the third largest in the country, which fulfilled 90 percent of domestic drug needs. "We should ensure the availability of life-saving drugs in the country," Faridullah said. More than 2000 professionals belonging to diverse fields of pharmacy, health and government functionaries will take part in the conference and exhibition. Earlier, Sardar Shabbir Professor Dr Azhar Hussain also spoke on the occasion.