KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) directed the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) recently, to collaborate with the foreign ministry and carry forward the visa process for importing medicines from India. The directive was issued by a two-member bench, comprising Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Yousuf Ali Sayeed. The plea pertaining to delays in the import of medicines, were filed by pharmaceutical companies.
A DRAP official informed the court that visas to visit India were not being issued due to escalation in tensions between in India and Pakistan. The counsel for the pharmaceutical companies attributed the delay in the import of medicines to this suspension in the issuance of visas.
Later, the DRAP official also informed the court that the drug regulatory authority had constituted a committee that was responsible for inspecting pharmaceutical companies.
Concluding the hearing, the court remarked that companies facing problems in the issuance of visas to India were to approach DRAP for assistance and directed the foreign ministry to provide assistance to DRAP. It ordered the ministry and the drug regulatory authority to collaborate to carry forward the visa process for the import of medicines from India. Besides, the high court directed DRAP to complete the pending registrations for drugs within 45 days.
Dr Muattar Hanif
The author is Editor at Dental News Pakistan and can be reached at newsdesk@medicalnewsgroup.com.pk
