Dr Faisal Sultan inaugurates DRAP Central Drugs Lab

KARACHI: The Drugs Regulatory Authority of Pakistan is emerging as a modern regulatory authority and DRAP's ultimate objective is to ensure the availability of quality therapeutic items in the country, said Dr Faisal Sultan, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health (SAPM).

He expressed these views during the formal inauguration of DRAP's Central Drugs Laboratory (CDL) here on Monday. He said that for such quality surveillance, the existence of a modern, functional, and state of the art laboratory was essential.

He informed that CDL had been made as an international standard laboratory, which would greatly help regulate the medicine market from manufacturing to the consumers.

DRAP's Chief Executive Officer, Asim Rauf and CDL's Director, Saif-ur-Rehman Khattak and Dr Najam Saqib, were also present, who briefed the SAPM about the functions of CDL's different high-tech departments.

Dr Faisal Sultan expressed his satisfaction over the up-gradation and strengthening of the CDL with better machinery and highly trained staff providing quality surveillance service. Now the CDL not only had all the essential features of testing and analysis but was also equipped with LIMS software that was capable of keeping track and trace of samples and test report communication.

To a question from media, the SAPM said that the government was working on ensuring realistic, balanced and sustained prices of medicine to protect the consumers and pharmaceutical industry.

To another query, he said since January 2021, only polio cases have been reported in the country, and during the recent testing phase, no polio case was reported.

He added that the government was also going to launch a 12-day aggressive campaign in the country against measles.

Dr Faisal informed attendees that the government would provide more international standard machinery and equipment to CDL and other health facilities in the country, in addition to inducting more trained staff and highly qualified experts. Besides, attractive salary packages would be offered to retain these experts at these facilities.

When his attention was drawn to alleged manipulation of the medicine market in the country, SAPM said the structure of the laws on the subject was evident. After the 18th amendment, most of the functions rested with the provinces. Coordination between the provinces and the federation was essential to regulate the medicine market like COVID-19 was successfully handled effectively.