Federal Health Minister Mohammad Nasir Khan mentioning that investment in the pharmaceutical sector in Pakistan is being registered at a pace of 13 percent said the government realising its responsibility towards public and is in the process of establishing a full-fledged drug regulatory authority. Talking to journalists following the inauguration of the state of art plant and laboratory at pharmaceutical company, Bristol - Myers Squibb he agreed that a balance as essential to be made and that government while welcoming investment would also ensure quality of products and benefit of investment to the masses.
He reminded that as compared to a 13 growth rate in pharmaceutical industry around six percent growth rate is witnessed in other industries adding that this is mainly because of the geographical location of Pakistan which could pave way for access to markets in central Asia and other parts of the world.
Keeping in view the growing realisation of the international investors, the federal minister said a proposition has also forwarded by him to the Prime Minister, Shaukat Aziz for allocating special corner for pharmaceutical industries in the export zone of Gwadar.
This, according to him would be besides 35 pharmaceutical on its either only recently established, only recently, or in process of being established in different parts of the country.
Earlier, addressing the guests at the inauguration ceremony, he said the government has announced the much-awaited national health policy with prevention as its corner stone.
However, realising the growing population a steady increase has been made in the budgetary allocation for health sector - from Rs 3.4 billion to Rs 4.3 billion and to Rs 6.1 billion in coming fiscal year.
Highlighting that prevention is the corner-stone of the national health policy he particularly mentioned the country made "Safe Water Programme" to be formally announced by the President, Pervez Musharraf.
This was said to be besides National Hepatitis Prevention programme worth Rs 2.5 billion along with a massive project for child and mother.
"50 percent of the amount allocated for child and mother care programme has been released and concrete measures are being adopted to prevent unwarranted mortality and morbidity of the two," he said.
Meanwhile, appreciating the efforts of the Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS-Pakistan) management for investing in the upgradation and modernisation of pharma sector in Pakistan said it has set a trend in the field of pharma industry.
The federal health minister said the precedence set in Pakistan is extremely essential as to meet the challenges in face of globalisation country has to fulfil WTO conditionalities and standards.
Mohammad Nasir Khan also appreciated the massive investments made by the US based company in Pakistan reminding that government would appreciate if both local pharmaceutical industries as well as their multinational counterparts would equally focus on research.
According to him the Ministry of Health in-close collaboration with Ministry of Science and Technology has chalked out a strategy for research in the field pharmacology - attempting to derive compounds from medicinal plants and making them as effective therapies for different diseases.
US Consul Generals Douglas C Rohn speaking on the occasion said the investment made by one of the best US based multinational company (MNC) was reflective of growing keenness of his country to contribute in the economic upliftment of Pakistan.
This, he said is more than investment as the idea is to ensure that its benefit trickles down to the masses. The very motive has been considerably fulfilled through the establishment of the factory, he said mentioning that besides 400 professionals employed at the unit there are 100s of other individuals earning their livelihood through the factory and the economic benefit is shared by their families and the community in general.
The plant also meets the health care needs of the masses, he said reminding that this was through one single factory while there happens to be other such units across the country ultimately meeting the US policy to promote peace.
The ceremony was also addressed by Anis A Shah, Senior Director Technical Operations (BMS-Pakistan), Kabir Nath, Regional President BMS - Asean region and Dr Saif Abelal, Regional President, BMS-Middle East.
The ceremony was said to mark the completion of Phase II of the project accomplished with an Rs 300 million. Third and last phase of the project expected to be completed next year against an additional investment of Rs 200 million. The plant holds provision for QC labs, AHUs, water systems, electrical panels and soforth.
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