E-drug: 25 Essential drugs short in supply
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25 Essential drugs short in supply
By our Staff Reporter
Daily Dawn-November29, 2002
Islamabad, Nov 27: Drug markets in Pakistan are persistently running
short of at least 25 essential medicines used to cure chronic diseases
including hypertension, asthma, epilepsy, psychiatric disorders,
Parkinsonism, heart diseases, arthritis and thyroid disorders.
A survey conducted by TheNetwork for Consumer Protection said these
drugs were either not available or were in acute shortage in the market.
The organization has also urged the health ministry to assert itself and
ensure immediate supply of these medicines.
The Network survey revealed that the medicines, which were short, were
comparatively cheaper and thus always in demand. It was also revealed
that some major manufacturers were involved in creating artificial
shortage of the essential drugs in high demand. Some chemists told the
survey team of TheNetwork that Pfizer, GSK and MSD are among the
manufacturers responsible for artificial shortage of a number of
essential medicines. Some of missing medicines were being manufactured
on regular basis but the manufacturers, instead of fulfilling the market
demand, supply them only to the selected distributors who often keep
these stocks in hiding and selling in black, they alleged. Deltacortril,
Angised, Lanoxin, Thyroxin and Ventolin inhaler are some of those drugs
being sold in black market for a long time.
Azhar Hussain, the Project Coordinator pharmaceuticals described the
shortage as immoral on the part of the Ministry and Pharmaceutical
Industry and urged that the supply of these essential drugs should be
ensured on war-footing basis. He also referred to the Wafaqi Mohtasib's
recommendations in which he directed to the Ministry of Health to ensure
smooth and frequent supply of the drugs short in market. Wafaqi Mohtasib
should take immediate notice of the persistent situation and should
direct the ministry of Health to comply with his previous recommendations.
He maintained that the Ministry and the pharmaceutical industry are
bound to ensure uninterrupted supply of registered drugs under the Drugs
Act 1976 (Licensing, Registration, and Advertising), section 4 which
says, "Every [registered] drug shall be produced in sufficient quantity
so as to ensure its regular and adequate supply in the market." And the
section 5 says, "The manufacturer of any drug shall not, without prior
approval of the registration board, be discontinued for period which may
result in its shortage." it is understandable that the industry may not
be interested in providing these drugs for marketing reasons, but why
can't the Ministry assert its role in assuring basic public health is
most shocking", he said.
Essential Drugs were described by the World Health Organization as those
which are time tested for efficacy and safety, are cheap and can treat
vast majority of diseases prevailing in the country. These drugs must
always be available as they are 'Essential' for health care of the
population. He demanded the Federal Ministry of Health to ensure
immediate supply of these drugs in the market to alleviate sufferings of
the sick and especially the poor sick that have nowhere to turn to
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Azhar Hussain
Project Coordinator Pharmaceuticals
TheNetwork for Consumer Protection
40-A Ramzan Plaza, G-9 Markaz
Islamabad
Pakistan
Tel: +92-51-2261085
Fax: +92-51-2261495
www.thenetwork.org.pk
Azhar Hussain <azhar@thenetwork.org.pk>
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