ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Young Pharmacist Association (PYPA) on Monday blamed the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (Drap) for the unavailability of 200 lifesaving drugs in the market.

Speaking at a press conference at a local hotel, PYPA representative Mohammad Usman said because of the corruption of Rs25 billion in Drap every year the authority had failed to provide relief to the citizens.

`Not only officers have been appointed and deputationists absorbed in Drap in violation of rules but also junior officers have been given the charge of senior posts due to which they cannot take a stand against illegal decisions of the Drap management,` Mr Usman alleged.

He said Drap had appointed 100 pharmacists but not paid them a single rupee for over a year.

He said in March this year the process for the appointment of 91 assistant directors was staned. Though it was advertised that the passing mark in the written test would be 50pc, after the test that benchmark was reduced to 40pc without re-advenising the posts.

`Moreover, after appointments, nine assistant directors in BPS 17 were given the charge of BPS 18 as the federal drug inspectors. Though an experience of 10 years was required for the drug inspectors, fresh graduates were appointed on the posts, he said.

Mr Usman said recently three officers were promoted despite the fact that the Islamabad High Court (IHC) had issued a restringing order. When a woman officer filed a contempt petition over the promotions, she was made an officer on special duty (OSD), he said.

`A fake person has been working in Drap with the name of an officer who died in 2001 and the National Inquiry Board is investigating the matter. On the other hand, Drap appointed a BPS 17 officer as the inquiry officer against a BPS 19 officer,` he said.

Pakistan Drug Lawyers Forum President Dr Noor Mohammad Mahar said the shortage of medicines had been created deliberately due to which some companies were making more profits.

He said a single bench of the IHC had declared the appointment of Drap Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr Mohammad Aslam illegal but he obtained a stay order.

`The Senate standing committee on health has already declared Drap one of the most corrupt departments of Pakistan. Dr Aslam has introduced ways and means to increase corruption in Drap,` he alleged.

He said ruling pany MNA Chaudhry Iftikhar Nazir had written letters to the chairman NAB and the secretary Establishment Division to take action against Drap.

When contacted, the Drap CEO denied the allegations and claimed that the recruitment process was completely transparent.

`We have been ensuring merit and production of quality drugs in the pharmaceutical industry so some elements are opposing it,` he maintained.