Daily Times

The Chemist Association had gone on strike against amendments in the Drug Act from Monday till the government withdraws the amendments to the Drug Act 1976. A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting attended by representatives of 13 associations of pharmaceutical companies, distributors, wholesalers, pharmacists, chain pharmacies, homeo, tib, unani and herbal medicine makers, dealers and retailers besides Pakistan Young Pharmacist Association and Pakistan Drug Lawyers Forum here. Owing to the strike patients are facing difficulties in acquiring the required medicines. The new amendments, amongst other clauses, call for a pharmacist to be present at every pharmacy and for sellers of fake drugs to be fined. Minister for Primary and Secondary Health Khawaja Imran Nazir said that “he held fruitful talks with the Pakistan Chemist Retailers Association which announced disassociation from the strike call by some elements.” Pakistan Drug Lawyers Forum president Dr. Noor Muhammad Mahar said after the meeting that pharmacists were highly qualified professionals and parliament must do legislation under which offences must be brought to the Pharmacy Council, the statutory body, under the Pharmacy Act 1967 instead of directly lodging FIRs against them.

In Lahore, a split has occurred between protesters involved in the selling and manufacture of medical drugs. The Retailers Association has decided to postpone their strike until February 20 after the negotiations with the government, whereas pharmaceutical companies are standing firm on the decision to protest against the Drug Act. On the same time differences, have also emerged in Pakistan Pharmaceutical Association as one group has delayed the strike until February 17 after dialogue with Minister for Primary and Secondary Health Khawaja Imran Nazir. The issues of the selling of substandard medicines and the absence of qualified pharmacistsare important. The reservations held by the protestors look to be much more than just ensuring the presence of a pharmacist. Moreover, both the steps outlined by the government under the legislation are necessary and check both the illegal practices of selling fake medicines as well as in the absence of a trained pharmacist. Other than pharmacists, doctors have also been holding regular strikes to force the government to accept their demands. These protests have resulted in great difficulties for patients who have been deprived of the essential medicine. Therefore, both the parties should settle the issue as lives are at stake amid the strike.

The government should have taken the relevant stakeholders on board before implementing the legislation to avoid such a situation which took turn for the worst, as the protest met with a terror attack, and valuable lives were lost. The government should have clarified its stance on the issue as soon as possible as to whether it wanted to negotiate with the protestors or enforce the regulations forcefully. *