Roche Pakistan, Abbot Pakistan and Johnson&Johnson Pakistan – have already minimised operations by up to 70% due to the absence of a proper authority that deals with their issues. PHOTO: FILE
The absence of “competent” health ministries and the “nearly defunct” Drug Regulatory Authority (DRA) has created several obstacles in the smooth operation of pharmaceutical industries, say insiders. Local pharmaceutical companies are barely scraping out a living, but multinationals are also increasingly feeling the heat: at least five have quit operations in Pakistan, with more expected to follow suit.
Searle Pharmaceuticals, Organon, MSD Pharma, Stiefel Pharma and Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceuticals have already exited the country. Three other multinationals – Roche Pakistan, Abbot Pakistan and Johnson&Johnson Pakistan – have already minimised operations by up to 70% due to the absence of a proper authority that deals with their issues.
Around 22 multinational companies are operating in the country, along with 380 local ones, according to Shahab Rizvi, chairman of the Pharma Bureau. He said the industry is at serious risk of becoming economically unviable.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 3rd, 2013.
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@Bangladeshi: earlier we sent our faujis and your 50% population did not liked it. can u tell if the other 50% enjoyed with them
If DRA is defunct, it is favorable situation for local pharmaceutical companies where patents of the multinational companies can be easily violated. why domestic companies will be worried about smooth operation? when the regulators is weak pharma companies can fix the prices of medicines exorbitantly high. what is the problem then? news clip appears to be wanting the exact reason for so called collapse of pharma companies.
Pakistan pharmaceutical companies can be re-located to bangladesh.