Pakistan Chemists and Retailers Association (PCRA) has presented a nine-point reconciliation formula to the Health Department, Punjab, for resolving the controversy over the disputed Punjab Drugs Rules 2007. First, the unconstitutional clause, discriminating between pharmacy and medical stores, should be removed from the Drugs Rules 2007.
Secondly, Category-A graduate pharmacist and Category-B pharmacist should be acknowledged, as having equal status of a qualified person under Clause 5 of section 1 of Pharmacy Act 1967. Besides, honouring the orders of the honourable Lahore High Court, a dispenser, having four years practical experience, should be acknowledged as a qualified person for pharmacy and medical stores.
Thirdly, the provision, allowing the veterinary doctors to sell medicines without acquiring drug sale license, should be withdrawn. Fourth, the duration of expiry of drug sale license should be made equivalent to duration of expiry of drugs manufacturing license, ie five years.
Fifth, the renewal of drug sale license should not be made conditional with mandatory inspection of drug inspectors in order to curb corrupt practices. Sixth, special provisions should be included in the Punjab Drugs Rules 2007 as per the directions of the Supreme Court and the federal government to rid the people of the menace of expired medicines.
Seventh, the elements, involved in manufacturing and sale of spurious and substandard medicines, should be barred from acquiring drug manufacturing and drug sale licenses. Eighth, special provisions should be included in the Punjab Drugs Rules 2007 to curb the practice of counterfeit packing and fake label printing on medicines.
Ninth, fine ticket system should be implemented over non-quality challans while specific criteria should be laid down to put an end to undue harassment, blackmailing and threats of sealing of medical stores by drug inspectors.