San Francisco, CA- The Ministry of Regulations and Services in Islamabad, Pakistan, announced that it was currently working on a draft bill which would disallow chemists in the federal capital to sell medicine without legitimate prescriptions. Currently, very few medical stores across the city that sell drugs require customers to show prescriptions for their medications.
Federal Minister for Regulations Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan stated, “We will be coming up with the draft bill very soon and present it in the parliament so Islamabad could become a model city where drugs could be sold to only those having valid prescriptions.Awan
further explained that according to the draft of the Citizens Rights Protection Bill, the chemists must keep and maintain a complete record of drugs sold on prescriptions.
Islamabad’s district health officer Dr. Ahzar added, “The ICT administration is dealing with all drug-related issues under the Punjab drug rules. After devolution, the local courts have not been giving us any legal cover in drug cases as under the 18th amendment every province has to devise its own drug rules.” Ahzar further explained that the draft bill was made to regain the powers lost under the Drug Act 1976. Before the Drug Act, chemists were not allowed to sell drugs without prescriptions.
Awan stated that the aid pharmaceutical companies’ record relating to sale of drugs would also be documented to ensure transparency and to keep track of the supply and demand of prescription drugs.She also said that, if approved, this new medical-related bill would also regulate the record of sales of all controlled drugs.
This draft bill may come from a September 15th announcement made by a two-member committee from the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims); INCB stated that it was concerned by the easy availability of controlled drugs at medical stores and some private hospitals. Although the INCB officials were satisfied with the supply of the controlled drugs to public hospitals, it still expressed concern over the availability of prescription drugs at over-counter stores and a few private hospitals.
“All the stakeholders like chemists, pharmaceutical companies and citizens will be taken on board before my ministry gives a final shape to the draft bill,” said Dr. Awan said.
She also expressed the hope that the government would ensure the passage of the bill in early January.
Dr. Awan said that, in addition, at a later stage the provincial governments would implement federal regulations in all respective provinces to ensure public safety.
As she briefed mediapersons about the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan, she stated it was essential to regulate the manufacturer and importer, which would then regulate the storage, distribution, sale and advertisement of therapeutic goods that include pharmaceutical drugs, alternative or traditional medicines and biological and medical devices. She explained that the establishment of the DRAP Act was striving to protect patients’ interests, as well as regulate the pharmaceutical industry. The medical-related Act follows the regulatory restrictions on pharmaceutical drugs maintained in advanced countries such as the United States and Canada.
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