Transparency International (TI) Pakistan has addressed a letter to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, alleging significant regulatory shortcomings and violations of the Drug Act 2012, including the prolonged non-appointment of Federal Inspectors of Drugs (FIDs) in the pharmaceutical sector.
The Medical Devices Rules, introduced in 2017, have reportedly seen incomplete and delayed applications from manufacturers and importers, leading to repeated extensions. According to the report, some pharmaceutical and medical device companies have exploited these delays to create artificial shortages and inflate product prices.
The Federal Government has been criticized for inadequate oversight, with no new FIDs appointed over the last two and a half years. Nationwide, only two inspectors are currently in operation, leaving over 700 licensed drug manufacturers, 500 alternative medicine producers, and numerous medical device entities under minimal supervision. This lack of regulatory enforcement has allegedly allowed potentially unsafe medical products to circulate unchecked.
Furthermore, the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) has remained without a permanent Director since the implementation of the DRAP Act in 2012. TI Pakistan has urged the Prime Minister to thoroughly investigate these allegations and, if validated, instruct the Federal Health Ministry and DRAP to appoint the required inspectors and implement stringent pharmaceutical regulations to safeguard public health.