Pharmaceutical manufacturing companies have run out of stock of over 800 psychotropic drugs because of delay in allocation of quota for raw material by the government and if the matter is not dealt with immediately it will leave a negative impact on US investment as well as pose a threat to lives of many patients.
The grim picture was painted by the American Business Council (ABC), the largest single-country business chamber representing over 65 US companies operating in Pakistan, in a letter to the central government.
“The issue of quota allocation is seriously affecting operations of ABC’s three member companies namely Pfizer Pakistan, Abbot Laboratories and Johnson and Johnson,” it said.
According to government authorities, the quota problem has arisen due to legal complications after devolution of ministries under the 18th Constitution Amendment.
The vacuum created by the shortage of these drugs may not be filled by alternative options, disturbing the process of treatment to millions of patients. “There is an urgent need to release quota for raw material of these products to avoid serious implications,” ABC said.
“Unavailability of high-quality, safe and efficacious drugs will pave the way for counterfeiters, black marketers and spurious drug makers to flood the market. This will endanger lives of many patients,” ABC said.
“The situation may lead to shutdown of operation, which will have a direct and indirect impact on employment in the pharma industry, cause a significant loss in exports and tax loss for the government and introduction of new life-saving drugs will be compromised.”
Published in The Express Tribune, April 17th, 2012.
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