PPMA dissatisfied with DRAP's performance

PPMA shows distress on behalf of its members on poor state of affairs of Drugs Regulatory Agency.

In a statement, the spokesman of Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers’ Association said that the seriousness of the situation can be gauged by the fact that the DRAP has been ineffective right from the date it came into existence through an ordinance.

“Not only the major works but also the routine ones are not being carried out. Even the minutes of the last meeting of the Drugs Registration Board held on 15th June 2012 have not been issued.

There are over 14,000 pending registration applications, and at this retarded rate will take years to clear. PPMA Members have invested tens of millions of rupees not only as registration fee but also on setting-up of new manufacturing sections”, he added.

With uncertainties prevailing with regard to the fate of DRAP Bill sent to the Parliament, the pharma industry is in dire straits and in a state of crisis. So far major decisions and policies are pending for long, e.g. Pricing Policy, Contract Manufacturing Policy, Vitamin Policy, etc. The last meeting of the Drugs Pricing Policy was adjourned without taking up the meeting agenda.

Before the pharma industry start closing down, we appeal to the Prime Minister of Pakistan to intervene urgently in the matter to restore the confidence of the pharma manufacturers, which meets 90% of the Country’s requirement of medicines and directly and indirectly are the means of livelihood of 4 million people.