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| Press Release |
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PPMA Wants Task Force Under PM for Promotion of Medicines Export |
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Karachi: With aim to increase annual exports of medicines from the country to 05 billion Dollars in ten years, Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers’ Association (PPMA) has demanded the govt to constitute a task force for the purpose under chairmanship of prime minister.
The demand was made at a seminar organized by PPMA here at a local hotel the other day titled: Pharmaceutical export, the next frontier” attended by representatives of the Pharma industry, chief executives of Trade Development of Pakistan (TDAP) and Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP), secretary of Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations, and Coordination, and other concerned stakeholders.
Participants of the moot were informed that PPMA had adopted a “Vision-2025” for national pharmaceutical industry under which it envisioned to increase the current meagre 200 million US Dollars exports of Pakistani medicines to 05 billion Dollars in ten years.
The task force proposed for the purpose would comprise of representatives of TDAP, DRAP, and PPMA as the task force should hold its meetings after every three months for reviewing situation of promotion of exports of medicines from Pakistan.
Under the same vision, the PPMA plans to establish at least 10 FDA (US Food and Drug Administration)-accredited medicines’ manufacturing units in Pakistan whose produce could be exported anywhere in the world.
Under the same regime, the PPMA wants launching of one –window operations in Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad, where under one roof officials of TDAP, DRAP, and other authorities concerned would issue all documents required for medicines’ export.
The association also wants resolution of all undue problems in issuance of documents required by Pharma manufacturers for exports of their produce.
It also demands that period of one year required for getting registrations for medicines’ exports should also be reduced for facilitation of Pakistani Pharma companies.
Participants of the seminar were informed that India at present had an international medicines’ export market of 15 billion US Dollars with medicines from the neighbouring country going to every developed country having stringently regulated pharmaceutical sector be they Japan, the USA, the UK, Australia, other European countries .
On the other hand Pakistanis medicines due to lack of mandatory international certifications at present could only be exported to under-developed countries having semi-regulated pharmaceutical markets mainly in Central Asian, African, Far Eastern, and South American regions.
For purpose of raising a medicines’ manufacturing unit having international certifications and standards, a heavy investment of 30 million Dollars is required, which could not be made by any of pharmaceutical manufacturers in Pakistan due to their limited resources.
The PPMA demands a feasible export regime for Pakistani Pharma industry on the lines of India where Pharmaceutical development fund was established under the export council for provision of loans to drug manufacturing units for 10 years on highly subsidized rates. Financial support so extended by govt would be used for raising standard of industry, securing international certifications, and paying off high salaries to sales representatives, which used to promote Pakistani medicines in foreign markets.
The Pharma industry of Pakistan had been successful in getting some of these privileges around ten years back after approval of Planning Commission but unfortunately this drug exports’ friendly policy was stopped during tenure of previous government.
Due to suspension of export friendly policy, Pharma industry has been waiting payment of reimbursements of over Rs. 03 billion as leftover of its expenses borne on exports of Pakistani medicines, which the industry has to get from TDAP.
Chairman of PPMA Saeed Allahwalah made a presentation on a comparative study of situation and statistics of medicines’ exports in Pakistan and India.
Dr. Kaiser Waheed, chairman of PPMA Southern Zone, said that Pakistan’s own Pharma industry had been fulfilling up to 65 per cent needs of local medicines’ market while the industry had vast potential of exports given provision of support and facilitation from govt.
He said Pakistan produces medicines with costs cheaper than that it in India so the Pharma industry needed support from export development funds of the country.
Chief Executive Officer of DRAP Dr. Muhammad Aslam said the drug authority had established its own exports’ promotion committee with representation from PPMA for promotion of Pakistani Pharma industry abroad.
Secretary of Ministry of National Health Services Muhammad Ayub Sheikh said the DRAP and his ministry should make joint efforts for development of pharma industry and in this regard no negligence, corruption, or non-cooperation would be tolerated on the part of any relevant authority.
He said the Drug regulatory authority would appoint some 200 professionals in two months for improvement in working of DRAP and for facilitation of Pharma industry.
Chief Executive of TDAP, S.M Muneer also addressed the seminar and assured stakeholders of Pharma industry the govt’s utmost support in promotion of exports of Pakistani medicines
Zahid Ali
Media Coordinator
Tel: 35213853
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