PEW proposes steps to stop recirculation of expired medicines

Lahore: The Pakistan Economy Watch (PEW) on Tuesday proposed steps to stop massive recirculation of expired medicines in Pakistan. Fifty One percent of all the medicines used by humans are in shape of pills and capsules and every pharmaceutical produces billions of tablets annually.Many tablets get expired on shelves which are recirculated by some elements for profit which must be stopped, said Dr. Murtaza Mughal, President PEW.

He said that recirculation of expired drugs can be discouraged if authorities decide to make embossing of batch number and expiry date on every tablet compulsory.Embossing batch number and expiry date on every tablet is mandatory in many countries but the issue is yet to win attention of authorities in Pakistan, he added.

Dr. Murtaza Mughal said that the current practice of the details being printed with ink on strips can easily be erased while details embossed on packing is also not very effective, he added.

He said that expired, defective or rejected drugs should immediately be destroyed but this is not the practice in some of the cases which is unfortunate.

In the wake of growing number of cases in re-usage of expiry drugs and the absence of a law to curb the same the unrestricted sale of expired life-saving medicines, vitamins, analgesics, antacids, antihistamines, anti-inflammatory, antiseptics, cough medicines, ear, eye and nasal drops, painkillers, sedatives, tonics, antibiotics, and infant formula poses a serious health hazard. Right to life has been guaranteed in the constitution, but such medicines are purchased in violation of rules and prescribed in some of the state-run hospitals, dispensaries and health centres which is shocking.

Dr. Murtaza Mughal said that government can consider making it binding on pharmacies to clear out unsold medicine within ten day of expiry while drug manufacturers to track medicines and ensure they are destroyed immediately.