T HIS is apropos the news report (Nov 22) that over 100 files belonging to the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP ) have gone missing from the record room.
On Nov 17, the FIA obtained the physical remand of four DRAP officials who allegedly issued a fake registration letter to a pharmaceutical company.
A DRAP official, told Dawn that the officials were arrested because they issued a registration certificate for a tablet without due process and standard procedures. Records of the registration were also not found.
During the initial checking by the DRAP management, it was confirmed that at least 100 files were missing from the record room.
It`s unfortunate that people spend a lot on buying medicine, particularly when admitted to private hospitals for surgical or conservative treatment.
Medicines are usually not available at public-sector hospitals. Poor people had to buy from medical stores. It`s observed that some medicines aren`t often available freely, but can be had at high prices.
Smuggled medicines are also available in the market.
My suggestions are that the authority should show the list of the registered medicines with their prices on the official website at regular intervals.It should also send a copy to the Pakistan Medical Association Centre.
The authority should ensure the availability of all registered medicines, with approved prices, so that doctors can easily prescribe the required medicine.
