DRAP Registers 3,335 Medicines During 2016

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 23rd Jan, 2017 ) : National Assembly Standing Committee on National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination here on Monday was apprised that Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) had registered 3,335 medicines by its board during 2016.

Briefing the committee, headed by Khalid Hussain Magsi, on DRAP's performance, the officials said in 2015, 2,775 medicines were registered while 1,923 in 2014. Some committee members were of view that medicines being sold in local markets should be tested from international laboratories as this practice would help improving the standard of medicines in the country.

Secretary Health Ayub Sheikh briefed on polio vaccination in Sindh and informed that investigation was underway regarding matter of death of a child.

He said the report would be issued on the matter after inquiry's competetion.

He said several million children got vaccinated during each anti polio drive in Sindh but not a single case of any negligence was reported yet. Secretary health said after the prime minister's approval, bar-coding policy would be applicable and only bar-coding medicines would be considered as genuine medicines.

He said through bar-coding, prices and quality of medicines would be checked. Some members said an awareness drive regarding donation of human organs should be started in public to save precious lives. The committee also discussed the draft of Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues (Amendment) Bill, 2016 moved by Parveen Masood Bhatti and Kishwer Zehra.