Daily Times

State Minister for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination (NHSRC) Dr Zafar Ullah Mirza, on Monday, visited Getz, the only pharmaceutical company in Pakistan whose manufacturing facility has recently been prequalified and accredited by World Health Organization (WHO), Geneva.

The company is also the largest exporter of medicines from Pakistan and has been awarded the prime minister’s highest export trophy in the pharmaceuticals category for 14 consecutive years.

During the nearly three hours visit, the minister toured and reviewed Getz Pharma’s manufacturing/production facility, quality control laboratories, stability area, and technical/ utility areas.

He reviewed the company’s quality management systems critically.

Dr Mirza has a rich experience in working at WHO for over 15 years.

The minister appreciated the high standards of production and quality assurance of the company and congratulated the management for obtaining both WHO prequalification as well as the Pharmaceutical Inspection Cooperation Scheme (PIC/S) accreditation and putting Pakistan on the map of the select few countries, whose facilities and products are prequalified by WHO.

After the visit, he discussed how to improve the availability of the essential medicines in Pakistan in general and the local production for the treatment of HIV.

Getz Pharma CEO Khalid Mahmood assured the minister that Getz Pharma would help address the problems of shortages of essential medicines, especially ones needed to treat HIV.

Dr Mirza discussed the issues faced by the pharmaceutical sector and brainstormed ideas to boost medicinal exports. He reiterated that the government and his ministry, under the guidance and instructions of the prime minister was keen to transform the health and pharmaceutical sector and increase the exports of medicines from Pakistan. The minister urged pharmaceutical companies to increase their exports.

The company’s management shared its plans to increase its exports in the next few years.