ISLAMABAD: After criticism about the continuous fall in Pakistan`s revenue generated from the export of medicines, the Ministry of National Health Services (NHS) has begun deliberations to increase exports.

But experts believe exports cannot increase unless Pakistan takes certain measures to ensure the quality of medicines, establishes reliable laboratories and has factories certified by international associations such as the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA).

According to State Bank figures, medicine exports fell from $220 million a year to $120m during the last four years.

Pakistan`s medicine imports, meanwhile, have increased from $409m to $676m. India, on the other hand, has been exporting $25 billion worth of medicines per year.

An official ministry statement on Friday said deliberations with all stakeholders have begun, in order to increase medicine exports. Training workshops are also being organised with international health sector partners such as the World Health Organisation to enhance the capacity of the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (Drap) and the industry.

NHS Minister Saira Afzal Tarar has stated that measures have been taken to facilitate pharmaceutical companies. For example, companies required order lists to be registered as exporters, which has been abolished, and up to 1,400 export registration approvals have beenissued.

She said the processing of documents for exports such as the certificate of pharmaceutical products or the good manufacturing practice were delayed for months, but are now issued within 10 days. Drap has also decided to grant one molecule/medicine to a manufacturer out of turn if it has an export value of $100,000.

The statement said another important area is moving towards WHO prequalification of the Central Drug LaboratoryinKarachi.Afteritsaccreditation,testingreports will have international acceptance and will facilitate exports.

However, a ministry official who asked not to be named said sincere steps are required to address issues related to medicines.

`There are around 60 USFDA approved factories in India, due to which they have access to markets of developed countries and they earn $25bn every year. Even Bangladesh has four USFDA approved factories, but in Pakistan there is not a single USFDA approved factory,` he said.

`It shows the status of our marl(et and industry. We need to take serious steps to mal(e our industry credible. The Federal Drug Surveillance Laboratory, which is the only [one with] hope to become a WHO prequalified lab, could not be shifted to its building even after six years, as the Federal Medical and Dental College is functional in the laboratory`s building,` he added.

The official said: `One can analyse the ministry`s efforts, as even the building has not been vacated for over four years.