Substandard drugs: G-B regulator sends 10 pharma cases to court

Gilgit: In a crackdown on pharmaceutical companies and medical stores violating the Drug Act, the Gilgit-Baltistan Drug Quality Control Board has approved sending cases against 10 pharmaceutical companies to drug court for manufacturing substandard medicines.

The board also imposed fines totaling Rs3 million on five companies, cancelled the licences of five medical stores, and issued show cause notices to two individuals involved in the violations.

The decision came during a meeting chaired by Gilgit-Baltistan Health Secretary and Chairman of the Drug Quality Control Board, Asifullah Khan. The meeting reviewed 22 cases presented by the Gilgit-Baltistan Drug Testing Laboratory involving distribution of sub-standard medicines, presence of non-professionals at medical stores, and multiple breaches of the Drug Act.

Chief Drug Inspector Dr. Ubaid Khan, Senior Drug Inspector Khadim Hussain, senior doctors from PHQ Hospital, and members of the Quality Control Board from Karakoram International University attended the meeting. Representatives of the pharmaceutical companies under scrutiny were also present and given an opportunity to present their defense.

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After evaluating laboratory results and reports from the Drug Control Administration, the board decided to take strict action against violators to protect public health. On the occasion, Health Secretary and Drug Quality Control Board Chairman, Asifullah Khan, stressed that strict action would be taken against those risking patients’ lives by dealing in substandard medicines.

“The presence of low-quality medicines in hospitals and medical stores will not be tolerated under any circumstances,” he asserted.

He directed drug inspectors to intensify enforcement against violators of the Drug Act without fear or favor, urging all efforts to rid Gilgit-Baltistan of substandard, fake, and unregistered medicines.

Chief Drug Inspector Dr Ubaid Khan lauded the efforts of the drug inspectors, noting that their dedication has prevented a large batch of substandard medicines from reaching patients, thus saving countless lives. He affirmed that the lifesaving work would continue with even greater determination. He pledged that this life-saving effort would continue steadfastly.

The board reaffirmed its commitment to rigorous market surveillance and promised escalated actions against counterfeit, unregistered, and substandard pharmaceutical products across the region.