Pak lifts ban on import of Indian medicines
ISLAMABAD: In order to avoid a severe crisis visà-vis availability of life-saving drugs in the local market, the government has lited the ban on import of medicines and raw material from India.
The statutory regulatory orders (SROS) issued by the Ministry of Commerce and Textile state that the ban on trade with India would remain effective; however, it would not apply to therapeutic products regulated by the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (Drap).
“The exemption is given in the best interest of the public and in order to maintain supply of medicines to patients,” Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Dr Zafar Mirza said.
Ater New Delhi’s decision to act on Kashmir on Aug.5, the Pakistan government had on Aug.9 decided to suspend all kinds of trade with India. Initially, the pharmaceutical industry had appealed to the government to relax rules and allow Indian goodsimportedbeforethedecision.thegovernment relaxed the rules and the goods already arrived in Pakistani airports/seaports had been cleared.
However, since a large quantity medicines and raw material are imported from India, the industry started demanding that the ban be lited on them as well. Otherwise, it feared, the country could face the severe crisis of medicines, especially life-saving drugs, in a few weeks. A Drap official said a meeting had been held last week to discuss the issue. “All stakeholders participated in the meeting and informed it that in a few weeks it would be almost impossible to ensure availability of medicines because the pharmaceutical industry depends on Indian medicines and raw material,” he added.
The official said the meeting was also informed that Indian medicines were available at affordable rates and prices of medicines would increase if the government did not go for an alternative arrangement.
“We compiled all their suggestions and sent them to the Ministry of National Health Services, asking the decision-makers to lit the ban or face criticism from the masses as prices of medicines will increase. The third option for the government was to subsidise the medicines, but it appeared to be difficult given the financial condition of the country,” he said.
On Aug.17, the Employers’ Federation of Pakistan (Efp)hadsuggestedthatapis(activepharmaceutical ingredients) imported from India to manufacture life-saving products by the local industry should be allowed on the condition that pharmaceutical companies would develop alternative sources of APIS within a period agreed upon with Drap.