Govt should simplify registration process for new molecules: PBP

Bureau advocates approving drugs which have been cleared in two out of three most developed countries.

KARACHI: The government should simplify the process for registering new molecules as delays in registration can deprive patients of newly discovered drugs and other advanced technologies, the Pharma Bureau Pakistan (PBP) advocated in a press release on Wednesday.

The statement said that the PBP is a strong proponent of prudent regulation of the pharmaceutical industry, however it strongly opposed over regulation. “This is against the interests of both consumers and the industry,” the press release said.

The bureau urged the government to form a simple and transparent formula in this regard.

“The government should approve the drug that has been approved in two of the three developed economies, i.e. the United States, European Union and Japan. These countries have highly credible regulatory bodies and the drugs they approve undergo rigorous clinical trials and other processes before their citizens can consume them,” the body suggested.

The PBP spokesperson added that pricing is a crucial issue in drug regulation and so is the availability of a drug.

“To ensure sustained supplies of drugs at reasonable rates, a simple pricing formula should be formed that may reflect the prices of the same drug in other countries of the South Asian region,” he said.