ISLAMABAD:
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has formed a committee to assess why low-cost, locally manufactured interferon, used to treat hepatitis C, was not marketed in the country.
Dr Sheikh Riazuddin, the former director of the Centre of Excellence in Molecular Biology (CEMB), had developed the low-cost interferon injection and proposed to sell it for Rs70 per injection. The interferon injection that passed its test phase would cost significantly less than the imported version which is Rs900 per injection.
The committee chairperson, Dr Yasmeen Rehman, observed that former secretary of science and technology, Irfan Nadeem, not only derailed the research and development of the low-cost injection but also forged documents to mislead the Supreme Court and Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to cause harm to Dr Riazuddin.
The committee observed that various studies suggest that 35 to 40 people were dying daily in Pakistan due to hepatitis and many lives could be saved if cheaper drugs were made available.
The PAC alleges that the derailment of the research and development of the low-cost injection eventually led to the loss of lives and cost billions of rupees in losses. The National Accountability Bureau has been asked to respond with a report within six weeks.
In a bid to move the process forward, the committee is slated to suggest ways to develop the medicine and market it in a way that will be aimed at saving lives and lessen the cost of treatment.
The committee will work under the chairmanship of Member Science and Technology of the Planning Commission, Dr Samar Mubarakmand. The PAC also directed accountability watchdog to restore the salary of a core team member and remove Dr Riazuddin’s name from the Exit Control List.
Rehman said that Irfan Nadeem Syed had requested the FIA to launch an inquiry against Dr Riazuddin on allegations of corruption and misuse of authority.
The NAB official said that by blocking the production of the interferon injections the officials caused Rs63 billion in annual losses to the exchequer.
Earlier, the health ministry had not only approved the interferon produced by the CEMB, but also sanctioned funds for the purpose. The product was even validated by German laboratories.
According to the FIA official who conducted an inquiry in the case, the locally manufactured medicine was not acceptable to multinational pharmaceutical companies and their supporters in the public sector, who helped blocked the development of the vaccine.
Dr Riazuddin, who was called by the PAC to narrate his story, said that the science and technology ministry blindly supported the research until 2009. But after Irfan Nadeem took over the process of marketing, the vaccine was shelved under an indefinite plan. He said the 11-member core team working on interferon has been dismantled.
According to the FIA’s inquiry report on the subject, as many as 100,000 interferon injections worth Rs7 million have expired, while the raw material of one million interferon injections has also expired.
(With additional input from Asad Kharal in Lahore)
Published in The Express Tribune, October 24th, 2012.
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well, we have no shortage of traitors. They can cause any harm to this nation just for making money.