On Friday, a parliamentary committee expressed concerns about the quality of drugs produced in Pakistan, highlighting that many do not meet international standards.
The Senate Standing Committee on National Health Services, Regulations, and Coordination, chaired by Senator Amir Waliuddin Chishti at Parliament House, reviewed the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan’s (Drap) performance over the past five years.
Drap CEO Asim Rauf discussed the authority’s responsibilities, which include licensing, manufacturing regulation, and quality control of drugs for import and export. He noted Drap’s recent integration with Pakistan Single Window for import and export licenses and the implementation of an e-Office system. Drap operates with a budget of Rs2.33 billion for 2024-25 and is establishing an export directorate to aid the export of therapeutic goods.
The committee raised concerns about the substandard quality of locally produced drugs. Drap officials mentioned a recent lawsuit against GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) for producing substandard drugs. The committee also questioned the status of multinational pharmaceutical companies in Pakistan and heard that 30 such companies remain operational, though some have merged.
The chairman also addressed the regulation of formula milk. Drap CEO Rauf informed the committee of a high court ruling favoring Drap’s regulatory scope over formula milk, despite a lawsuit from milk companies. The chairman suggested continuing the regulation and initiating an awareness campaign for mothers about the potential risks of formula milk.
The committee also discussed the new policy for the National Registration Examination (NRE), with Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) President Dr. Rizwan Taj reporting that the passing criteria for foreign medical students were lowered from 70% to 60%, leading to an increase in pass rates from 4% to 40%.
Additionally, National Health Services Secretary Nadeem Mahbub reported the appointment of 500 doctors to federal hospitals between 2018 and 2023, with provincial quotas observed. Of these, only six were provided with official residences; the rest received hiring and allowance benefits.
The meeting was attended by senators Palwasha Mohammad Zai Khan, Syed Masroor Ahsan, Irfanul Haq Siddiqui, Mohammad Humayun Mohmand, and Fawzia Arshad, along with senior officials from relevant departments.
