Prices Up, Quality Down: DRAP Recalls Substandard Drugs

Karachi: Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) recently issued a notification to recall all the stocks of several medicines posing safety risk to patients. The drugs were termed as ‘Adulterated and Sub-Standard’ by the regulatory authority.

An official document released by DRAP read that manufacturers should alert their sales officers/suppliers/ distributors to issue instructions to the pharmacies/hospitals, point of sales/purchase/use for the return of suspected stocks of product in question. “Furthermore, you are directed to submit a compliance report of recall to this division within seven (07) days positively,” the notification read.

The medicines recalled due to contamination of glass particles are the following:

S No.Generic NameDrug NameManufacturer
1Ibuprofen 200mg/5mlTorfen SuspensionKaizen Pharmaceuticals. (Pvt,) Ltd.. Karachi
 2diclofenac potassiumCaflam 50mgGSK Consumer Healthcare Pakistan Limited, Jamshoro
 3AzithromycineAzomax 500mg FCTGSK Consumer Healthcare Pakistan Limited, Jamshoro
 4ParacetamolParapals Infusion 1 00mlInventor Phama, Karachi.
 5OxiphinOxiphin 19 InjectionKannel Pharmaceuticals, Islamabad

Earlier, The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP), Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, has increased the prices of medicines from 22 to 35 percent yet again within span of one month.

-DN Report

The author is Editor at Dental News Pakistan and can be reached at newsdesk@medicalnewsgroup.com.pk