DRAP made transparent, digitalised, says Kamal
KARACHI: Federal Minister for Health Mustafa Kamal has said that the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) has been made fully transparent and digitalised. More than 86,000 medicines manufactured by the pharmaceutical industry have been registered under the Track and Trace System, enabling consumers to scan medicines easily through their mobile phones and verify their authenticity as well…
Karachi: Federal Minister for Health, Mustafa Kamal, has announced that the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) has undergone a complete transformation, being both transparent and digitalised. Over 86,000 medications produced by the pharmaceutical sector have been registered under the Track and Trace System, allowing consumers to scan products via their mobile phones to verify authenticity and price details.
Kamal stated that pharmaceutical firms can now register their medicines online, a process that used to take years but is now completed in just 21 days. During his visit to the Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI), Kamal highlighted that eight months have passed since DRAP's certification procedures transitioned to a digital system, processing more than 5,000 cases.
He received recognition from the Prime Minister for this significant achievement in digitalization. Kamal emphasized the need to address medicine pricing, explaining that pharmaceutical companies are seeking price increases. The government is evaluating this issue, considering the financial strain on citizens and potential medicine shortages if prices remain unchanged.
He proposed that the government should remove direct price regulation and allow market forces to dictate prices, akin to other products. However, KATI President Sheikh Umer Rehan suggested that all federal ministers should visit Karachi monthly to address sector-specific concerns. Rehan pointed out that Pakistan's production costs are among the highest in the region, and the government has raised interest rates, exacerbating industry challenges.
He commended DRAP's digitalization initiative for alleviating industry difficulties, noting the pharmaceutical sector's pivotal role in Karachi, which contributes significantly to the country's pharmaceutical industry. Rehan expressed appreciation for Kamal's representation of Karachi at the federal level, expecting him to raise the city's issues with the government and facilitate effective resolutions.
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