Drugs and syrups in unsealed bottles

Some months back, Consumer Protection Council of Helpline Trust had drawn the attention of the President and Prime Minister of Pakistan.
The Ministry of Health, Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (PPMA) and Pakistan Medical Association (PMA), to the marketing of prescription drugs and medicated syrups by the Pakistan Pharmaceutical Industry, in unsealed bottles, which could be dangerous to the health of consumers, especially children.
Consumer Protection Council had stated that this is in gross violation of FDA and International Laws and Pakistan is the only country where its Health Ministry has allowed this unethical practice.
Pharmaceutical industry had taken the plea, that the Health Ministry had not made it mandatory to pack prescription drugs and medicated syrups in sealed bottles.
Yet, the same international companies market medicines throughout the world, in sealed and pilfer proof bottles.
The practice of sealing bottles had been stopped some years back, as some manufacturers of the pharmaceutical industry had been exposed to extortion and blackmail by some unscrupulous elements in the market, who had unsealed bottles of syrups of a multinational company, added particles, resealed them and lodged a complaint with the drug inspector.
As such, the industry had protested and the Health Ministry had allowed them not to seal the bottles.
A few months back, the matter had been brought to the notice of Consumer Protection Council of Helpline Trust and the Trust had protested strongly to the Health Ministry, Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association and Pakistan Medical Association .
Consumer Protection Council had stated that it is the moral obligation of manufacturers to take into consideration their commitment to good manufacturing practice and corporate social responsibility and ensure that Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association must follow the same standards and ethical behaviour, as they do in other countries.
Pakistan Medical Association had also endorsed Helpline Trust's view and had assured them that they will also take up the matter with the Ministry of Health and Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association through a press conference.
In a follow of their protest, members of Helpline Trust had a meeting with Ahmad Jan, Drug Controller (QA), Dr Hafsa Karam Ellahi, Deputy Drugs Controller, (QC) and Chaudhry Zeeshan Naszir, Assistant Drug Controller (QC) and were informed that in a meeting held on 4th Junly, 2005, between Mohammad Nasir Khan, Federal Minister for Health , member of Pharma Bureau, Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association, Pakistan Medical Association and Pakistan Chemist and Druggist Association, the Minister had ordered that effective measures must be taken in sealing of bottles prescription drugs and syrups within a period of three to six months.
Helpline Trust delegation has appreciated the orders of the Minister in protecting consumers and the steps taken by the Ministry of Health.
They have stated that as this matter is of great importance to the health of consumers and their families and keeping in view good manufacturing practice and corporate social responsibility, Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association will comply with the order without any further delay.