Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers’ Association (PPMA) is seriously concerned at the stoppage of all import and export activities of pharma raw material and finished medicines at the ports

Islamabad: Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers’ Association (PPMA) are seriously concerned at the stoppage of all import and export activities of pharma raw material and finished medicines at the ports. This has happened immediately after the promulgation of the Drug Regulatory Agency of Pakistan on 16th February, 2012. As it was, prior to that the Drugs Control Authority was only engaged in clearing the imports and exports of the pharma industry.

The situation is very serious as the ADCs have stopped working, with the result that the import consignments of raw materials and finished products are piling up at the ports. We fear that vaccines, anti-cancer products which are dependent on cold chain supplies and have limited validity will be damaged and the patients on life support will suffer from life threatening situation. Also, there would be serious shortages of life-saving medicines in the Country. The same situation is being faced for Exports, where all export consignments have been held up at the ports due to stoppage by the authorities, resulting in loss of millions of dollars for the Country.

In view of the seriousness of the matter, we are urging the Cabinet Secretary to immediately take steps to start clearing the consignments on urgent basis, failing which the industry will not be held responsible for the shortage of medicine and suffering of the patients.

For more information, contact:
Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association
Office No. 03, 2nd Floor, Al- Babar Centre, F-8, Markaz, Islamabad, Pakistan
Phone: (051) 2850300 – 2818251
Fax: (051) 2818252
E-mail: info@ppma.org.pk
Website: www.ppma.org.pk