A delegation from the Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (PPMA) met with Federal Minister for Health Dr. Mustafa Kamal to discuss major issues facing the pharmaceutical industry, including the fight against counterfeit medicines and strategies for local vaccine production. Senior officials, including the Chief Executive Officer of the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP), participated in the meeting.
The participants reviewed the progress on implementing 2D barcodes as a key step toward eliminating fake medicines from the market. Dr. Mustafa Kamal emphasized the urgent need for effective measures against counterfeit drugs, noting that such medicines pose severe risks to public health and damage the reputation of the pharmaceutical industry. He urged the industry to accelerate its efforts to fully and efficiently implement 2D barcode systems.
Another major topic of discussion was the development of a national strategy for vaccine production within Pakistan. Dr. Kamal reiterated the government’s commitment to producing vaccines locally, aiming to achieve self-sufficiency and reduce reliance on foreign imports. He directed DRAP and the pharmaceutical industry to jointly develop an integrated roadmap for local vaccine manufacturing. According to Dr. Kamal, this initiative will strengthen the country’s healthcare infrastructure, save valuable foreign exchange, and enhance overall public health security.
Dr. Kamal further instructed the pharmaceutical sector and DRAP to take all necessary steps to boost exports. The PPMA delegation praised recent reforms in DRAP under the health minister’s leadership and highlighted how the digitization of medical devices has made business operations more convenient for the sector.
