Laboratories in major industrial zones proposed

Islamabad: Minister for Health Nasir Khan has proposed setting up of quality labs in major industrial zones to conduct stability studies and other tests relating to medicines.

The labs, to be accredited by Pakistan National Accreditation Council have been proposed to ensure quality of medicines in the country, Nasir Khan said while talking to a delegation of pharmaceutical manufacturers of Islamabad and Rawalpindi Zone.

Talking to a group of journalists here on Monday, senior representatives of the zone, Muhammad Asad and Shaukat Sindhu said the minister was apprised about the major problems confronting the pharmaceutical manufacturers.

The minister agreed that all sort of business activities should continue in parallel to the policy making and directed the concerned officials to issue all pending registration letters to the companies under Heat, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) policy. The minister also approved one year extension in the installation of HVAC system by the companies which is ending on December 31 this year.

Muhammad Asad, a CEO of Global Pharmaceuticals informed that the minister said that the manufacturers would keep on doing stabilities but condition to submit data for new registrations will be applicable for the applications submitted after June 30, 2008. He said it was also decided that a committee comprising secretary health, director general health and drugs controller will meet with representatives of pharmaceutical manufacturers soon to formulate and finalise the agreed decisions.