ISLAMABAD: The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) in a statement, has informed to the public and physicians that the organisation allows patients to import small quantities of medicines for their personal use.
There are few medicines which at the moment are not registered in Pakistan due to patent issues or other reasons. Patients can apply to DRAP offices located in capital and provincial headquarters for import permission. Although DRAP has a priority review system and early registration process for new medicines but a small number of medicines are not available due to international patent laws. DRAP ensures that patients have access to medicines for all ailments. But if a registered medical practitioner prescribes any un-registered medicine, patient can import it for his/her personal use. The application process for is very simple, “All you need is to bring an application on simple paper, copy of CNIC and original prescription of the physician.”
Published in Daily Times, February 25th 2018.