Quality control: Drug inspectors appointed in each district
Will work with special committees to identify those guilty of violating laws.
Will work with special committees to identify those guilty of violating laws.
PESHAWAR:
The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) health department has appointed drugs inspectors in each district to streamline the process of purchasing and distributing drugs, and keep a check on spurious medicines.
The health delivery system came under the provincial government’s jurisdiction following the 18th Amendment. It is now the responsibility of each provincial government to enact laws and regulations that can better cater to the health needs of citizens.
The newly-appointed district drug inspectors range in grade from basic pay scale (BPS) 17 to 19. Three drug inspectors were appointed in some districts such as Mardan, Peshawar, Swat, Bannu and Abbottabad, while one each was appointed in the rest.
“The federal government only fixes prices for the medicines and issues the list to the respective pharmaceutical companies,” said Sabir Ali, chief provincial drug inspector. “The provincial government is now responsible for streamlining the process to provide patients with quality drugs.”
Ali added offices have been established in each district for the inspectors who would be provided with all available resources in order to produce weekly reports on a regular basis.
“The inspectors have been given full authority to raid any suspicious locations thought to be storing and selling spurious drugs,” said Ali, adding officials also have the power to arrest people involved in purchasing and distributing counterfeit drugs. “We have to save the lives of common people using the power given to us by the government.”
Ali maintained special committees have already been constituted at the district level and drug inspectors will closely work with them to gain information on persons willing to make money at others peoples’ expense.
The Drug Act of 1976, in respect to the powers attributed to inspectors, says they can inspect any premises, which may be suspected of manufacturing drugs. In addition, they are also given powers to inspect the manufacturing process, the means employed for standardising and testing drugs and all relevant records and registers.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 14th, 2013.
The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) health department has appointed drugs inspectors in each district to streamline the process of purchasing and distributing drugs, and keep a check on spurious medicines.
The health delivery system came under the provincial government’s jurisdiction following the 18th Amendment. It is now the responsibility of each provincial government to enact laws and regulations that can better cater to the health needs of citizens.
The newly-appointed district drug inspectors range in grade from basic pay scale (BPS) 17 to 19. Three drug inspectors were appointed in some districts such as Mardan, Peshawar, Swat, Bannu and Abbottabad, while one each was appointed in the rest.
“The federal government only fixes prices for the medicines and issues the list to the respective pharmaceutical companies,” said Sabir Ali, chief provincial drug inspector. “The provincial government is now responsible for streamlining the process to provide patients with quality drugs.”
Ali added offices have been established in each district for the inspectors who would be provided with all available resources in order to produce weekly reports on a regular basis.
“The inspectors have been given full authority to raid any suspicious locations thought to be storing and selling spurious drugs,” said Ali, adding officials also have the power to arrest people involved in purchasing and distributing counterfeit drugs. “We have to save the lives of common people using the power given to us by the government.”
Ali maintained special committees have already been constituted at the district level and drug inspectors will closely work with them to gain information on persons willing to make money at others peoples’ expense.
The Drug Act of 1976, in respect to the powers attributed to inspectors, says they can inspect any premises, which may be suspected of manufacturing drugs. In addition, they are also given powers to inspect the manufacturing process, the means employed for standardising and testing drugs and all relevant records and registers.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 14th, 2013.