LAHORE: Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) is an autonomous body to control, regulate, enforce and implement a legal framework, besides registration of medicines. Sources from the health department said that; The Authority has been running without a managerial chief since its establishment on 16th February, 2011. The aims and objectives of DRAP include prevention of sale of fake, substandard and non-registered medicines, monitor hoarding of essential medicine, provide a competitive edge by facilitating the deployment of advanced manufacturing technologies from globally leading countries,focus on quality certifications like ISO, etc. It also aims to improve the standard of exported products from Pakistan, to create opportunities for earning foreign exchange and enable the local manufacturers to compete in the global market. Another objective is to implement ethical criteria for drug promotion, marketing and advertising. It also has the responsibility to Register herbal medicines, while evaluating, recognizing and legally authenticating the role of alternative medicines in the modern era. DRAP is required to provide a customer friendly environment for all segments of pharma industry and for safe and effective drugs manufacturing. On 12th November, 2012 the then President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari had passed a regulation - the Drug Regulatory Authority Bill, which defined the managerial structure of the authority. However, both the governments, till date, have failed to appoint a regular operational chief for this authority. As per the composition of authority, it has 13 Directors, including; Director Pharmaceutical Evaluations & Registration, Director Drug Licensing, Director Quality Assurance &Laboratory testing, Director medical devices & medicalcosmetics, Director Biological Drugs, Director Controlled drugs,Director Pharmacy Services, Director Health & OTC Products (non Drugs), Director Costing & Pricing, Director Budget & Accounts, Director Administration, Human Resource & Logistics, Director Legal Affairs and a Director Management of Information. This authority also has representation from the ministry of law & justice. One member each, from the secretariat of every concerned Department, along with members from Governments of Balochistan, Sindh, KPK, Punjab and Gilgit Baltistan are placed in the DRAP. Additionally, six experts from public and private sector are placed here with equal representation from each province.
