KARACHI: Federal Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal said on Saturday that the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) had added over 86,000 medicines to its Track and Trace System.
Addressing the Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI), Kamal said consumers can scan medicine packaging with mobile phones. The system aims to help buyers verify authenticity and check prices.
Pharmaceutical companies can now submit medicine and product registrations online. Kamal said procedures that previously took years are now completed within 21 days.
DRAP shifted its certification procedures online eight months ago. Since then, the authority has processed more than 5,000 cases, the minister told industrialists.
He added that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had recognised DRAP’s digitalisation efforts with a performance award. Speaking in the National Assembly on Friday, Kamal said the consumer verification service would formally launch at the end of November.
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The minister also addressed concerns over medicine prices. He said pharmaceutical manufacturers were seeking increases, but the federal cabinet was considering the matter.
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Kamal warned that higher prices could burden consumers, while keeping rates unchanged might cause shortages of medicines for serious illnesses. He proposed allowing market forces to determine medicine prices instead of maintaining direct government controls.
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KATI President Sheikh Umer Rehan welcomed the digital reforms, saying they had eased difficulties for pharmaceutical businesses.
Rehan urged federal ministers to visit Karachi regularly and address industry concerns. He described the city’s production costs as a major challenge for manufacturers.
