PMA demands availability of drugs in markets

KARACHI- Secretary General, Pakistan Medical Association (PMA), Centre Dr S.M Qaisar Sajjad in a recent media briefing, demanded to the federal government to ensure availability of life-saving drugs in markets and implement notification regarding reduction of medicines prices.

Dr S.M Qaisar Sajjad in his statement, said Dr Zafar Mirza, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Health and Firdous Ashiq Awan, the Special Assistant to the Prime Minister for Information and Broadcasting had announced 15 per cent reduction on 89 items of life-saving drugs recently.

Dr Sajjad said it was very surprising that the same notification was also issued by the government without being implemented. It had been noted that many essential drugs are either not available or are in short supply.

Secretary General said PMA believed that repeating the same notifications did not provide any improvement in the system except bringing more insult to the injuries of the poor masses.

Dr Sajjad demanded that this notification should be implemented in letter and spirit and the government ensure the availability of drugs in the market. He further demanded that all medicines particularly the live-saving drugs, anabolic medicine, anti-psychotic medicines should only be dispensed with the prescription of qualified medical practitioners.