Operation against expired, spurious drugs begins in Pakistan
Pakistan Times Health Desk

KARACHI: The Ministry of Health has announced to launch a country-wide operation after 10 days against expired drugs and sale and purchase of spurious and unregistered medicines.

This was decided in the first Task Force meeting setup on the directive of Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, here Thursday.

The operation will be carried out against medicines manufactured by both distributors of national and multi-national manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers found contravening Drug Act 1976.

The meeting held under the chairmanship of Deputy Director General Health Dr. Ali Akbar Sayal, attended by representatives of drug manufacturers, chemists, Chairman Sindh Zone of Pakistan Chemists and Druggists Association and member Federal Task Force, Haji Hanif Blue, Abdullah Feroz and G.M. Memon, prominent pharmacists besides government officials and Federal Drug officials.

Perspective

The operation is to be carried out on the directive of Prime Minister against trading and supply of sub-standard, hazardous and illegal medicines.

All those associated with the manufacturing, production, trade and supply of medicines in violation of Drug Act 1976 were provided an opportunity to legalise their activities before the start of campaign and all the national and multi-national companies are directed not to sell their products to un-licensed chemists.

All Chemists were directed to display their licence conspicuously, issue proper cash memo with warranty, keep the business place clean and keep medicines under prescribed temperature.

The Chairman PCDA Sindh Zone, Hanif Blue assured of all out cooperation to make the Prime Minister's mission successful. However, he said that it will be the responsibility of the concerned authorities to check corruption, if any, under the garb of the operation.●