The federal govt has formulated a draft proposal to set up a new authority to regulate registration and sale of drugs.
The Drug Regulatory Agency of Pakistan (DRAP) will operate on the same lines of Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the USA – looking after the regulation of food and drug industry in US.
Currently the pharmaceutical industry in the country is regulated by a department working under the administrative control and jurisdiction of the federal health ministry.
According to an official, who did not want to be disclosed, currently the authority of registering drugs rest with the federal director general health. “Licensing of drugs comes under the additional secretary of the ministry while the secretary looks after the pricing.
It is expected that DRAP would be a powerful institution like other regulators of the federal government of Pakistan and will play its role to curb the menace of fake and substandard drugs and food items.
