Medicines’ supply not in jeopardy

Caretaker ministers discuss pharma producers’ concerns

LAHORE:

Caretaker Provincial Specialised Healthcare and Medical Education Minister Dr Javed Akram has declared that there is no shortage of medicines in any government hospital in Punjab.

He was speaking along with Caretaker Primary and Secondary Healthcare Minister Dr Jamal Nasir to a delegation of Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (PPMA). Steps taken to supply medicines to the government hospitals were discussed during the meeting. Members of the delegation informed the caretaker ministers about their concerns.

Dr Akram said sufficient medicines were available for the patients in the government hospitals.

He said the recommendations of the association would be placed before Caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi.

The caretaker minister said the government and the pharmaceutical manufacturers were on the same page regarding uninterrupted supply of medicines to the hospitals.

The government would accept all legitimate demands of the PPMA, he added.

"We are making an agreement with Bank of Punjab to open LC of medicines," he said regarding the letters of credit for import.

To solve the problems of pharmaceutical companies on a priority basis, a focal person has been appointed by the department. "We stand with the pharmaceutical companies in difficult times, he added.

Dr Jamal Nasir also expressed support for the pharmaceutical companies.

Punjab Health Secretary Dr Ahmed Javed Qazi said the supply of medicines to the public sector hospitals was being regularly monitored.

He said weekly meetings would be organised to ensure continuous supply of medicines to the hospitals of Punjab.

He said requests of the companies would be processed immediately.

The delegation agreed to extend full cooperation for uninterrupted supply of medicines in the government hospitals.

Business problems

Caretaker Provincial Minister of Industry, Commerce and Energy SM Tanveer also met a representative delegation of all the business organisations of Lahore.

Caretaker Punjab cabinet members Dr Javed Akram, Barrister Azfar Ali Nasir, Aamir Mir and Dr Jamal Nasir was also present in the meeting along with Punjab Board of Investment and Trade CEO Jalal Hasan and officers of the district administration and other departments.

Representatives of business organisations informed the ministers about the problems of the business community and markets. The representatives of trade organisations said a mechanism should be made to build parking plazas under public-private partnership and a policy should be made in consultation with stakeholders to solve the problems of the markets. They also said the paper mills should be brought under a monitoring authority to keep the prices at an appropriate level.

The minister for industry and commerce said holding clean and transparent elections was the responsibility of the caretaker government, but solving the problems of businesspersons and industrialists was also its responsibility.

The problems related to the Punjab government would be solved by the caretaker government, while the federal government would be contacted to solve the problems related to it, he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 23^rd, 2023.