The government has agreed to exempt pharmaceutical companies' top brass from hearing in drug courts and in this regard amendment to law would be made soon. Sources told Business Recorder on Sunday that a meeting of pharmaceutical manufacturers with Federal Health Secretary Khusnood Akhter Lashari held recently in Islamabad.
The Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (PPMA) suggested that chief executive officers, directors and other high-ranking officials should be exempted from drug court hearing because their other engagements suffered resulting negative impact on pharma sector.
Lashari agreed with the Association proposal and assured that the suggestion would become part of law soon.
Sources said several high-ranking officials of various drug companies were engaged in drug court procedures that compelled them not to move abroad for taking part in key business assignments.
It was proposed that officials in the production side could be summoned for hearing in case of deficiencies found in any drug.
The drug manufacturers also suggested that the government should make export-friendly environment and encourage leading drug exporters by giving incentives. Sources said that Indian drugs were capturing the regional markets with its low standard products in this situation Pakistani government should have to promote local drugs in these markets.
Contrary to that the ministry of health made complicated procedures for exporting drugs, sources added. Lashari also informed that data protection of data exclusivity procedures were anti-national polices, which needed reconsideration by the government.
He had also admitted the issue of recalling products because several drugs meeting standards but due to insufficient equipment for testing cost huge losses to pharmaceutical companies.
Sources said that drug testing laboratories in the country either in federal or provincial level do not have latest equipment for checking drugs and some time this inability declare high quality drug as substandard.
"In the country only National Institute of Health (NIH) equipped with latest technology for testing current standards of drugs and here all our products meet the required quality," sources said.
In another meeting, the PPMA apprised the federal drug controller about SRO-1130 that disallows pharma companies to give discount to national and other hospitals. Therefore, 65 percent discount should be given to pharma companies.
The drug controller responded to the proposals and assured the Association for forming a committee, which would handle this matter. The drug controller also invited recommendation from the PPMA for penal inspection.
The inspection was facing several challenges because the government does not have capabilities for testing drugs because of unavailability of drug testing labs, human resource. While, the pharma companies including national and multi-nationals are equipped with latest technology to test production of drugs, sources said.
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