Nationwide crackdowns launched against fake, illegal medicines

ISLAMABAD: The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) launched nationwide crackdowns against fake and illegal medicines, ARY News reported on Tuesday.

The DRAP provincial officials conducted raids on different localities in Islamabad, Lahore and Peshawar.

The National Task Force and DRAP officials carried out a major raid at Peshawar’s Karkhano Market and seized unregistered medicines worth Rs35 million, whereas, 25 medical stores and pharmacies were sealed for selling unregistered drugs.

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The authority’s spokesperson said that action will be taken against the responsible persons under DRAP Act for trading illegal drugs.

Moreover, the teams also raided medical stores and pharmacies located on Lehtrar Road – Islamabad and sealed the stocks of fake and illegal drugs.

The health ministry’s spokesperson said in a statement the federal drug inspector raided the office of foreign medicine importers in Lahore. The importers were allegedly selling the life-saving drugs at higher prices.

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Federal Health Minister Abdul Qadir Patel said that the government was ensuring the supplies of authentic and qualitative medicines to the masses. He said that actions will be continued to curb the trade of fake, unregistered and counterfeit medicines.

Patel said that DRAP was taking effective steps to fulfil its responsibilities. He vowed that the government was aiming to improve the performance of drug regulatory authority in accordance with international standards.