Speakers while addressing a seminar on "Counterfeit Medicines and Quackery" stressed the need for introducing cutting-edge anti-counterfeiting methodologies to fight the menace of fake drugs and safeguard the health of the nation. The seminar was jointly organised by the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry here at LCCI on Monday.
Vice President Saarc Chamber of Commerce and Industry Iftikhar Ali Malik presided over the seminar while President PPMA Haroon Qasim, Dr Shahla Javaid Akram, President Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Chairperson FPCCI Standing Committee on Consumer Rights Protection Huma Bukhari, Convenor LCCI Standing Committee on Pharmaceuticals Amjad Ali Jawa, Hassan Irfan from Trade Mark Authority also spoke on the occasion.
The speakers said the government and the private sector would have to work jointly to nip the evil from the bud. They were of the view that only an integrated approach could be successful in defeating counterfeiting and fraud as well as the diversion of pharmaceutical products. They stressed the need for launching an awareness campaign against quackery and pledged to play their role for making the drive a success.
Iftikhar Ali Malik, the chief guest, said that manufacturing and trading of counterfeit medicines is an international problem. The best solution seems through forming committees of consumers in suburban areas and villages that the fake medicines are not sold. This should be in addition to the inspection programme of government. He said the chambers and the Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (PPMA) should exercise their influence to discourage the practice.
"Pharmaceutical industry should feel its corporate, social responsibility and come forward for reforms in this sector." Malik said that the prices of medicines in Pakistan are much higher as compared to neighbouring countries. High profits thus make the marketing of spurious drugs very attractive and profitable. Pharmaceutical industry should revise the prices downward. He said that sale of medicines through standard medical stores is becoming popular, therefore, a little effort on the part of the government could help put an end to menace of fake drugs.
Counterfeit medicine manufacturers are also giving a bad name to the country that keeps foreign investors away from making any investment in this sector thus putting the country's economic growth at stake. The FPCCI former President Iftikhar Ali Malik said that the elimination of quackery is as important as the trading of counterfeit drugs. Moreover, doctors usually hesitate to go to rural areas where 112 million people live due to which people have no choice, but to get the services of quacks to get treatment. The government should increase the number of hospitals in the rural areas and suburban area to save the patients from falling prey to the quacks.
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