Crackdown will be continued against the factories manufacturing substandard medicines: CM Punjab

Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that sale of spurious, substandard and unlicensed medicines is a big crime and indiscriminate crackdown will be continued against the factories manufacturing such medicines. He said that these factories will be sealed at any cost. He said that the elements involved in this evil trade deserve no leniency. The Chief Minister said that Punjab government has made amendments in Drug Act-1976 and an ordinance has been issued in this regard under which punishment for those manufacturing spurious, substandard and unlicensed medicines has been enhanced to maximum imprisonment of ten years and a fine of Rs. 50 lakh.

He was addressing a meeting through video link in Civil Secretariat, today. The meeting reviewed the pace of campaign against the elements involved in the production and sale of spurious, sub-standard and unlicensed medicines while a strategy was also discussed for complete eradication of this heinous trade.

The Chief Minister while giving approval in principle to the setting up of the proposed Punjab Drug Authority said that this authority will be completely autonomous. He directed concerned authorities that the final draft of the authority and its organizational structure should be presented to him within 14 days and a strict system of accountability should also be introduced. He said that no one can be allowed to play with human lives. He said that Punjab will be purged of spurious medicines and the elements playing with human lives should be in jail.

He said that the owners of the units manufacturing medicines without license deserve maximum punishment and this menace will be eliminated through effective measures and stringent punishment. He said that the collusion between those producing spurious medicines and those involved in their sale will be eliminated and police, concerned law enforcement agencies and administration can take concerted action against the elements producing medicines without license. He said that the manufacturers maintaining quality and standards will be encouraged after every three months.

The Chief Minister said that four taskforces have been constituted in the province for elimination of spurious and substandard medicines and these taskforces should continue action against the elements involved in this heinous business. He directed that inspection of the units of licensed drug manufacturers should be conducted and third-party audit should also be carried out while indiscriminate action should be taken against those involved in the illegal business of manufacturing of medicines without license.

The Chief Minister expressed dissatisfaction over the performance of Provincial Quality Control Board and directed to take measures immediately for its improvement. He further directed that Secretary Prosecution should conduct forensic audit of the previous performance of Provincial Quality Control Board and submit him a report while the best models of the region should be considered for improving the efficiency of the board. He said that a foolproof mechanism should be evolved for sending samples of the medicines abroad for checking till the outsourcing of the system of drug testing labs while the scope of drug inspection monitoring evaluation system should be extended to all divisional headquarters so that an effective system of check and balance should be set up through monitoring.

The Chief Minister appreciated the performance of Kh. Imran Nazir with regard to effective action against the elements involved in evil trade of spurious medicines and said that other taskforces will also have to play an active role for eradicating this heinous trade.

Advisor on Health Khawaja Salman Rafiq, Chief Secretary Khizar Hayat Gondal, Parliamentary Secretary Kh. Imran Nazir, Members Assembly Qazi Adnan Farid, Abdul Aleem Shah, Dr. Nadia Aziz, Advocate General Punjab, concerned secretaries, Commissioner Lahore Division and senior officers attended the meeting at Civil Secretariat through video link.