40-45 percent drugs sold in Pakistan are spurious
By IANSTuesday, January 19, 2010
ISLAMABAD - The Pakistani government Tuesday admitted that 40-45 percent of the drugs being sold in the country were spurious.
Speaking on a motion tabled in the National Assembly, the lower house of parliament, Interior Minister Rehman Malik said no one would be allowed to play with lives of masses and not only would strict legislation be enacted but it would be implemented at all cost.
The motion, tabled by Shireen Arshad Khan of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), demanded that the government take steps to stop the sale of spurious medicines around the country.
After a debate, the house unanimously approved the motion, reported Online news agency.
Participating in the debate, members charged that drug inspectors and the provincial and federal health departments had failed to take strict measures against quacks and sellers of fake medicines.
Spurious medicines are being sold openly, they said, adding that licenses of those
involved in selling of uncertified drugs should be cancelled.
Due to inadequate health facilities, they said, quacks were also proliferating.
They also demanded that the government prevent the smuggling of drugs from Bangladesh.
National Assembly Speaker Fehmida Mirza, in her remarks, directed its standing committee on health to review the bills against selling of spurious medicines and take corrective action where required.
