Punjab Minister for Primary and Secondary Healthcare Dr. Muhammad Akhtar Malik has urged the pharmaceutical industry to focus on preparing raw material used for drugs at local level, extending help to the government for saving foreign exchange so that inexpensive drugs may be made available to the citizens. The Minister was talking to a delegation of Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association North Zone led by Dr Faisal Khokar which called on him at the health department. He said that the government would extend all-out support to the pharma industry if they are willing to prepare raw material of drugs at local level. Our pharmacists and drugists have a great potential to drive the industry towards self-reliance as envisioned by the PTI government. The delegates apprised the minister of challenges facing the pharma industry. Dr Akhtar Malik sought briefing on Drugs Control Wings of the department and it's initiaves. He asked to unite all units of Drugs Control Wing scattered in the city under one roof in a bid to facilitate the public. The minister was briefed that around 125 THQ/DHQ hospitals and 43 BHUs are upgraded, besides setting up 9 trauma centers in the province. Additional Secretary Drugs Control Suhail informed that there are 5 Drugs Testing Labs, ISO certified, are functioning across the province. The Minister asked the authorities to fill the vacant posts on ad-hoc basis to meet shortage of HR. The minister claimed that around 32.97 million Panadol and 1.57 million Calpol tablets are available in the market. Dr Akhtar Malik while reviewing performance of PMU, directed to enhance dialysis machines for increasing patients, besides expediting efforts for provision of CT scan and MRI facilities in THQ/DHQ hospitals. He said that around 20 mobile health units are engaged to provide ARV and ASV facilities to the flood-steicken areas. He maintained that location and mobile health units would be tracked and monitored after uploading their location on dashboard.
