A reception was hosted in the honor of new federal minister on National Regularization and Services Ferdous Aashiq Awan and Senator Abdul Haseeb by Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (PPMA) inKarachi.
A large number of high profile persons from pharmaceutical industry, DRAP head Qazi Abdul Saboor and prominent personalities of the metropolis attended the event.
Chief Guest at the ceremony Ferdous Ashiq Awan said that it was a matter of great pleasure and satisfaction for her to know that despite the gloomy economic circumstances and wide spreading desperation in the country, a sector that was pharmaceutical has an enormous potential not only to be grown but also to compete international counterparts.
She said that, recently after visiting various domestic and international pharmaceutical manufacturing units, she realized that although there was a difference of labels between the domestic and international manufacturers, proficiency, vision, commitment, business and standards were same.
Talking about the prolonged issues of pharmaceutical sector inPakistan, she said that she was already aware of the issues of the sector and was committed to meet the due demands of manufacturers.
She invited PPMA to design a pricing formula so as to resolve the issue once and for all. She said that the government would approve the balance formula, being presented by the PPMA, that cater all the aspects of the issue, including interests of producers and end consumers, besides rate of inflation and price in international market.
Shedding light on Drug Regularity Authority of Pakistan (DRAP), she said that DRAP needed a lot of reforms to become fruitful and fulfill the purposes, it was formed to achieve.
The minister assured the manufacturers that the status of PPMA’s representative in DRAP would be upgraded from observer to a member through legislation. She also assured that all the issues of manufacturers, including provision of policy, registration of drugs, issuance of approved registration letters, and contract manufacturing policy, would be resolved soon. She added that prolonged problems, which were pending for a decade, could not be solved in a day.
Commenting over the issue that DRA was constituted through an ordinance, instead of a bill, she said that rulers and regulations are formed for the benefits of people and could be changed. She predicted that there will be good news soon with regard to unanimously acceptance of bill for drug regulatory authority.
The Minister urged the PPMA members to transform their CSR activities towards supporting education particularly in pharmacy discipline, so as to produce skilled pharmacy experts.
Expressing her disappointment on public sector, she termed central drug lab as being unsatisfactory. She also sought the cooperation of PPMA for the progress of government sector in this regard. She also viewed to utilize central research funds in this regard.
About the drug quota issue, she said that elected government, not armed forces are responsible before masses, so the government would ensure its writ, in this regard and dictation of any sort including anti narcotics force (ANF) would not be tolerated. Such interaction with the ministry with the stakeholders should be continued so as to resolve the issues on permanent basis, she concluded.
Renowned pharmacist and Senator Abdul Hasib said while talking about the DRAP that it would not be gone longer as it was constituted under a fake ordinance, which would die itself after 120 days, however legislation would be made through proper channel, so as to form a genuine DRAP.
He pointed out several dimensions, in which, according to him, PPMA would have to do a lot of work. He also urged PPMA to form a balanced and competent pricing formula.
Earlier PPMA vice chairman Zahid Saeed said that PPMA members had already invested billions of rupees in the country, and were still willing to invest further billions of rupees even in the metropolis ofKarachi, despite all the acute problems prevailing in the city. They live, invest and die inPakistan.
He in a graceful manner, drew the attention of Awan on all the problems that have been prevailing for almost a decade, and were resultant in acute unrest among pharmaceutical manufacturers. He on behalf of the industry they showed full trust in Awan and requested her to fulfill the expectations of the stakeholders so they could survive and play a significant role in the progress and development of the country.