Daily Times

Pakistan has got licence to make newly developed medicine for treating the coronavirus patients, Dr Zafar Mirza, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on National Health Services announced on Friday.

The drug named Remdesivir will soon be manufactured locally under licence from Gilead Sciences Inc, an American research based pharmaceutical company, he said, addressing a press conference at the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC).

“This is a major success on public health and diplomatic front, as under the agreement Pakistan will supply this medicine to 127 developing countries hit by the coronavirus pandemic.”

Remdesivir will be registered on fast track basis by Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) after fulfilling legal requirements. Remdesivir was granted emergency use authorization by the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) on May 1, and approved by the Japanese authorities on May 8, Dr Zafar said.

“The production could commence as early as eight weeks, after necessary regulatory approvals are obtained, and the manufacturer is confident that it will produce sufficient quantities over time to serve the needs of the patients in Pakistan and abroad.”

Dr Mirza said globally only two countries, including Pakistan, have been allowed to manufacture this medicine.

He said that on May 12, Pakistani manufacturer BF Biosciences Limited, a subsidiary of Ferozsons Laboratories Limited, successfully concluded its voluntary licensing agreement with Gilead Sciences, Inc. for the manufacture and sale of ‘Remdesivir’ under Gilead’s Global Patient Solutions Program to supply the product to affected developing countries.

The Gilead has signed non-exclusive voluntary licence agreements with five South Asian manufacturers including BF Biosciences Limited from Pakistan. Under the agreements, the companies have a right to receive a technology transfer of the Gilead manufacturing process for Remdesivir to enable them to ensure product quality and to scale up production quickly.

Dr Mirza pointed out it was for the first time that a manufacturer from Pakistan had been included in a global supply solution of this nature.

The development represents an important step forward for Pakistan on the health, economic and diplomacy fronts. It would help provide citizens and frontline healthcare workers access to the latest treatment for the pandemic.

It also represented an important export opportunity for the country’s pharmaceutical sector at a critically important period. Export of the drug to the developing world at this time of need would also position Pakistan to play its rightful role on the global stage of public health, he added.

The government appreciates this important licensing step by Gilead Sciences, and pledged to support the urgent availability of Remdesivir, he assured.

Advisor to Prime Minister on Commerce Abdul Razaq Dawood said that the local manufacture of Remdisivir by BF Biosciences Limited represents an important export opportunity for the country’s pharmaceutical sector at a critical period.

He said that export of the drug to the developing world at this time of need would also position Pakistan to play its rightful role on the global stage of public health.

Meanwhile, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on National Health Services Dr Zafar Mirza on Friday officially launched ‘We Care’ – a nationwide training program for doctors, nurses, paramedics and support staff on Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kits at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS).

Addressing the ceremony, Dr Mirza said a special online training course for health care workers is designed to explain the standard usage of PPE while keeping in mind the limitations of working during Covid-19 pandemic.

This course aims to engage more than a 100,000 doctors, nurses, paramedics and support staff from all over the country, he added.

The training course is designed to make participants aware of the role of PPE in protecting oneself in a contagious environment and their personal responsibility to wear the proper PPE according to the risk in the environment they are working in.

Dr Zafar said the standardized national curriculum for this training has been developed and top medical universities all across the country, one in each province, is selected to deliver the training to their respective areas.

He said steady and adequate direct supplies of the PPEs is part of the campaign which is being handled by National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).

He said ‘We Care’ campaign was presented to all the provincial health ministers and agreed with them. The campaign will complement the ongoing efforts by the provinces and development partners for the same purpose, Dr. Mirza added.

Participants were briefed that the Ministry of National Health Services Regulation and Coordination has launched “We CARE”, a national campaign for protecting and supporting our frontline health workers in the context of Covid-19.

They were informed that ‘We care’ aims at providing adequate personal protective equipment to the health workers, orienting them on using various PPE items as per international standards, and creating an overall psycho-social environment of care and support.

The participants were apprised that the ministry is being assisted by the World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) and International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) as partners in this campaign, he added.

They were informed that ‘We care’ also aimed to sensitize public, including patients and visitors at healthcare facilities, to support frontline healthcare workers by following preventive behaviours not only to reduce the risk of infection to themselves but also to reduce work burden on health providers.

World Health Organization Representative to Pakistan, Dr Palitha Gunarathna Mahipala and experts from the fraternity were also present on the occasion. A special documentary on proper usage of PPE was also played during the inaugural session.