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National Task Force (NTF) for Eradication of Spurious and Unregistered Therapeutic goods; CEO DRAP Chaired the meeting of NTF Core Team

Asad Ullah Press Releases
National Task Force (NTF) for Eradication of Spurious and Unregistered Therapeutic goods; CEO DRAP Chaired the meeting of NTF Core Team

On 28th September, 2022; The meeting of Core Team of National Task Force for Eradication of Spurious and Unregistered Therapeutic Goods held on 28th September, 2022 at DRAP, HQ Islamabad. The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) chaired the meeting of Core Team for the National Task Force in light of the recommendation of Senate’s Standing Committee on Ministry of National Health Service, Regulation & Coordination (M/o NHSR&C) today at the DRAP Head Quarters, Islamabad. The Director of Quality Assurance & Lab Testing, DRAP, Director of Licensing, DRAP and All the Chiefs of Drug Inspectorates from across the Pakistan attended the meeting. The CEO, DRAP emphasized on enhancing the collaboration among federal and provincial inspectorate of drugs for market surveillance, ensuring the availability of life saving medicines and mitigation of shortage of medicines. The CEO, DRAP further added the measures to control overpricing and particularly the products for public health emergencies should be focused upon. Rapid Alert System for immediate eradication of substandard and falsified product posing high level threats and effective recalls of defective therapeutic goods were deliberated upon in details. Finally, the communication mechanism for National Task Force was discussed in detail and agreed upon by the participants. 

Director General, Department of Drug Administration (DDA), Government of Nepal with a delegate visited DRAP HQ to foster mutual cooperation

Asad Ullah Events, Press Releases
Director General, Department of Drug Administration (DDA), Government of Nepal with a delegate visited DRAP HQ to foster mutual cooperation

An official delegate from Department of Drug Administration (DDA), Ministry of Health & Population, Government of Nepal under the leadership of Mr. Bharat Bhattarai, Director General, DDA visited DRAP HQ, Islamabad on Tuesday, August 23, 2022. Mr. Asim Rauf, CEO DRAP warmly welcomed the Mr. Bhattarai and other senior officials from DDA and MoH, Nepal.

Directors of Division of Pharmaceutical Evaluation & Regisatrion (PE&R), Medical Devices and Medicated Cosmetics (MDMC), and Health & OTC Products (H&OTC) demonstrated their respective presentations on the various regulatory functions of DRAP. The delegates shows keen interest in the journey of Pakistan toward successful implementation of WHO/ICH Common Technical Document (CTD) format for registration of pharmaceutical and biological drugs in Pakistan, and praises the IT Systems establish by DRAP for integrated regulatory data management in the country.

The officials of the international Health Partner, United States Pharmacopeia- Prompting Quality of Medicine Plus, from Nepal and Pakistan, were also present in these meetings.

DRAP and Islamia University of Bahawalpur (IUB) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote scientific Collaboration

Asad Ullah Events, Press Releases
DRAP and Islamia University of Bahawalpur (IUB) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote scientific Collaboration

The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) and Islamia University of Bahawalpur (IUB) undergoes in a Memorandum of Understanding on August 19, 2022. A brief ceremony was organized at DRAP HQ, Islamabad where Mr. Asim Rauf, CEO, DRAP and Dr. Athar Mahboob, Vice Chancellor, IUB signed the MoU on behalf of their respective institutions. Senior members of both organizations were also present on this occasion.

Both organizations, Under this MoU has agreed to facilitate cooperation in academic research to fosters collective efforts in facilitating scientific progress through exchange of knowledge and expertise. It will open new opportunities for academic, research, trainings and mutual collaborations.

DRAP notified National Pharmacovigilance Centre (NPC) under the Pharmacovigilance Rules, 2022

Asad Ullah Notifications, Pharmacovigilance, Press Releases

Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) , in pursuance to the enactment of Pharmacovigilance Rules, 2022 has notified the National Pharmacovigilance Centre, with the aim to further enhance the Pharmacovigilance activities includes collecting, analyzing, monitoring, and preventing adverse effects in the therapeutic goods.

DRAP also encourages all healthcare professionals to establish the practices of pharmacovigilance in the country as they have pivotal role in monitoring the safety and efficacy of therapeutic goods, particularly for newly-marketed product.

NPC-Notification-10.06.2022Download

The Authority, under Rule 3(1) read with Rule 3 (2) of the Pharmacovigilance Rules, 2022, notified the National Pharmacovigilance Centre under the Division of Pharmacy Services, DRAP.

The safe use of drugs, vaccines, medical devices and other therapeutic goods medicines is the most important criteria for DRAP to protect the public health and integrity of national healthcare system. Pharmacovigilance is the mechanisms to map and ensure the safety of therapeutic goods throughout their life span – from clinical trials to patient or consumer.

The importance of Pharmacovigilance is increased further in the current era due to arrival of novel of biopharmaceutical products and innovative technologies in healthcare practices.

National Pharmacovigilance Center (NPC) is working at DRAP and Pakistan is a full member of the WHO Programme for International Drug Monitoring.

Two Provincial Pharmacovigilance Centres in Punjab and Islamabad are also working in addition to a Centre of EPI (immunization programme), collecting ADR data and collaborating with the National Centre. National Pharmacovigilance Centre (NPC) has also established a Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Expert Committee (PRAEC).

NPC is Coordinating with other provinces/administrative territories, PHPs for establishment of their PV centers and also communicating with manufacture and importers of therapeutic goods for establishment of their pharmacovigilance system and reporting of ADRs to DRAP.

NPC has also published various documents and Guidelines for Stakeholders on pharmacovigilance activities, including :-

  1. Pakistan National Pharmacovigilance Guidelines
  2. Good Vigilance Practice Guidelines for Pharmaceutical Companies
  3. Pharmacovigilance Guidelines for Healthcare Professionals
  4. Pharmacovigilance Guidelines for Patients Pharmacovigilance
  5. Guidelines for Public Health Programmes.

Mr. Asim Rauf, CEO, DRAP met with WHO Country Representative, Dr Palitha Gunarathna Mahipala to promote bilateral cooperation

Asad Ullah Events, Press Releases
Mr. Asim Rauf, CEO, DRAP met with WHO Country Representative, Dr Palitha Gunarathna Mahipala to promote bilateral cooperation

Mr. Asim Rauf, CEO DRAP met with WHO Country Representative for Pakistan, Dr Palitha Gunarathna Mahipala on Monday 25th April, 2022 at WHO Country Office, Islamabad, to discuss the bilateral cooperation among WHO and Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan.

Dr. Mahipala appreciated the efforts of DRAP and Ministry of National Health Services, Regulation & Coordination for strengthening the national regulatory framework to ensure and enhance the access of quality assured, safe and efficacious therapeutic goods in the country for better health of the people of Pakistan. Mr. Asim Rauf, acknowledged the role of WHO and country office’ team for extending assistance in various health programs which are improving the access of Pakistani citizen to quality assured therapeutic goods.

The meeting ended with the reiteration of the commitment from WHO and DRAP for strengthening the bilateral cooperation and to take all possible measure for protecting the health of the people of Pakistan.