The Ministry of Health has strictly imposed ban on the import, manufacture and sale of all those medicines containing 'Rofecoxib'. The Ministry in a statement on Wednesday warned the general public that different brands containing 'Rofecoxib' are being sold in the market like Vioxx, Xib, Roxib and Eucob in clear violation of government's directives.
The authorities in the Health ministry had already issued directives to the importers and manufacturers of 'Rofecoxib' to strictly follow the ban imposed by the federal government besides showing its stocks in the market through national press and electronic media.
Keeping in view the public health, the ministry has appealed to the importers, manufacturers, chemists, health experts and doctors not to advise the Rofecoxib to the patients.
The Drugs Registration Board (DRB) had already cancelled the registration of all the drugs containing "Rofecoxib" after reviewing reports of increased cardiovascular risk and world-wide withdrawal of "Rofecoxib" by the manufacturer.
The withdrawal was based on damning evidence of increased risk of confirmed cardiovascular events, such as heart attacks and strokes.
It may be mentioned that the giant Multinational, Merck & Co had announced world-wide withdrawal of its largest selling product Vioxx(r) (generic name: Rofecoxib) on September 30, 2004.
A survey conducted by a non-governmental organisation, The Network for Consumers Protection revealed that Vioxx is still freely available at medical stores throughout Pakistan.
The company has not asked medical stores for removal of the stocks. According to the survey, very few doctors were aware of the product's withdrawal and they are still recommending it to the patients.
The NGO criticised the health ministry for not taking concrete steps to ban Vioxx and the other three brands, while the Indian government has already banned the product despite sever pressures from the pharma industry.
A study, which led to the withdrawal of the drug, said 1.4 million people surveyed who took Vioxx were more likely to suffer a heart attack or sudden cardiac arrest.
In Pakistan, Vioxx is marketed by Merck Sharpe & Dhome (MSD) at Rs 80 per tablet and other brands including Xib, Rofegesic, and Vicox are manufactured by the national companies.