Senate Committee reviews DRAP performance, urges enhanced quality of drugs & regulation of formula milk

ISLAMABAD, August 30 (SABAH): Senator Amir Waliuddin Chisti chaired the meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination held on Friday at Parliament House Islamabad.

The Senate Committee was briefed by the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) on its working and performance over the last five years. CEO DRAP, Asim Rauf, informed that it focuses on licensing and manufacturing of drugs for import and export. Additionally, DRAP regulates quality assurance and quality control of drugs countrywide. However, sales, storage, and distribution of drugs fall under the ambit of the provinces. Recently, DRAP has been integrated with Pakistan Single Window for import and export licenses, and DRAP has also implemented its E-Office. It was further apprised that DRAP is a self-sufficient organization and the budget of DRAP for the financial year 2024-25 is 2.33 billion rupees. DRAP is also working on the establishment of an Export Directorate to facilitate the exports of ‘Therapeutic Goods’. The Committee recommended that the quality of drugs produced countrywide is not up to international standards and DRAP should focus on enhancing the quality of drugs. DRAP officials stated that recently DRAP has filed a suit against ‘GSK’ for manufacturing ill-quality drugs. The Committee inquired about the number of multinational pharmaceutical companies that are currently working in the country and also inquired about the authenticity of claims with regard to the exit of these companies from Pakistan. DRAP officials informed that 30 multinational companies are working in the country and that no company has left; however, there has been a merger of several companies.

Chairman of the Committee, Senator Amir Waliuddin Chisti, highlighted the matter of ‘formula milk’. CEO DRAP stated that formula milk companies have filed a suit in the High Court against the inclusion of formula milk in DRAP. However, the suit has been decided in favor of DRAP. He recommended that DRAP initiate work on the regulation of formula milk if the companies have not filed a suit in the Supreme Court. He also opined that an awareness campaign should be initiated among mothers highlighting the detrimental effects of formula milk.

The Committee deliberated on the new policy for the National Registration Examination (NRE). President PMDC, Dr. Rizwan Taj, stated that, under the new policy, PMDC has lowered the passing criteria for foreign medical students from 70% to 60%. As a result, the passing ratio for NRE exams has increased from 4% to 40%.

Furthermore, the Committee was briefed on the total strength of doctors working in federal government hospitals. Secretary NHSRC, Nadeem Mahbub, informed that a total of 500 doctors were appointed in federal government hospitals during the period of 2018-23. He added that 8 doctors were appointed in federal government hospitals, 3 in NIRM, 143 in Government Polyclinic Hospital, and 346 in PIMS. Provincial quotas were also followed in the appointment of these doctors. Only 6 were allotted residences while the remaining are on hiring and allowances.

The meeting was attended by Senator Palwasha Mohammad Zai Khan, Senator Syed Masroor Ahsan, Senator Irfan ul Haq Siddiqui, Senator Mohammad Humayun Mohmand, Senator Fawzia Arshad, Secretary for Ministry of National Health Services Regulations and Coordination (NHSRC) Nadeem Mahbub, Special Secretary for Ministry of NHSRC Nasir ud Din Mashood Ahmed, CEO DRAP Asim Rauf, President PMDC DR. Rizwan Taj and other senior officials from the concerned departments.