The pharmaceutical sector in the country presents accelerated growth, as 10 new pharmaceutical companies have been set up in Karachi, 45 in Punjab and 10 in the NWFP in recent times.
According to official sources, this industry has witnessed 14.2 percent growth. The high local demand (earthquake affected areas), increase in external demand, entry of new companies and expansion in production capacity by existing units are main factors for the growth of the pharmaceutical industry.
The growth in chemicals was mainly contributed by soap & detergents and toilets soap, which are the bi-products of vegetable ghee and cooking oil. While textiles-related chemicals such as caustic soda, sulphuric acid and hydrochloric acid had shown a deceleration trend as seen in the textiles sector.
The sources said the government was actively working for improving quality of drugs with special focus on export markets to ensure collection and destruction of expired drugs from the markets in the light of directions of Supreme Court of Pakistan and submission of a report on behalf of various pharmaceutical companies.
Secretary Health, Syed Anwar Mahmood, said the Ministry was going to arrange a convention in September this year and urged stakeholders to work together for the betterment of the country.
Meanwhile, on a proposal of drugs controller, a committee was constituted to resolve the issue unanimously with members included Dr Iqbal Soomro (PCDA), Riaz Hussain (Pharma Bureau), Mohammad Usman (PPMA), Shaukat Sindhu (PPIA), Naser Qureshi (Rawalpindi, Islamabad and Hattar Manufacturer Association) and Arshad Awan (PCDA). It was decided that the PCDA would collect evidence from their members and a meeting of the committee would be held next week, in the Ministry of Health to reach the final decision.
It was also decided that the stakeholders would submit their comments for future implementation within seven days positively.
A draft mechanism has also been proposed by the Ministry to put in rules for the recalls of substandard/ spurious/ adulterated/ misbranded and expired drugs to give legislative support without creating any dispute.
Manufacturers/ importers will establish their internal mechanism for quality assessment throughout the shelf life of drug after marketing. In case of detecting defects through their internal assessment, they will immediately recall/ withdraw said batch of drugs from the market directly or through the authorised agents.
Manufacturers will also immediately recall the unutilised quantity of drugs from the market, if any batch of said drug is declared spurious/ sub-standard/ adulterated or misbranded by the drug-testing laboratory. The manufacturers may utilise the recalled stocks if the drug is subsequently passed by appellate Laboratory.
In case, the Appellate laboratory also declares the drug substandard or adulterated, the recalled stocks will be destroyed by a committee constituted by the provincial or federal government.
Manufacturer or importer will collect drugs from the market before expiry date.
The officials further said that 100 percent compensations would be given to purchasers if intimation on prescribed form is given in writing to the manufacturers, indenters or importers directly or through their authorised agents, three months prior to expiry dates.
Similarly, 50 percent compensation will be given to the purchasers if intimation is given one month prior to the expiry date, while 25 percent compensation will be given if intimation is forwarded one day prior to the expiry date.
Retailer, distributors or wholesalers, who failed to intimate manufacturer or indenters directly in writing or through their authorised agents in the prescribed manner and possess any expired drugs, will be held responsible and liable to be proceeded in accordance with the law.