Ban on import of Indian medicines lifted

[B.K.N]

You do know many of those on lifetime meds do get it from India. ..but we shouldn't care about these sick and let them die, right?

These posters don't have any problem in trade with India their real problem is Imran Khan they are saying all this just to criticize him and PTI government

 

[Jinn Baba]

Ban on import of Indian medicines lifted

ISLAMABAD: In order to avoid a severe crisis vis-à-vis availability of life-saving drugs in the local market, the government has lifted the ban on import of medicines and raw material from India.

Statutory regulatory orders (SROs) issued by the Ministry of Commerce and Textile state that the ban on trade with India would remain effective; however, it would not apply to therapeutic products regulated by the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (Drap).

“The exemption is given in the best interest of the public and in order to maintain supply of medicines to patients,” Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Dr Zafar Mirza said while talking to Dawn.

The two SROs, signed by Director General (Trade Policy) Mohammad Ashraf and available with Dawn, will be published in the Gazette of Pakistan.

It is worth mentioning that after New Delhi’s decision to annex occupied Kashmir on Aug 5, the Pakistan government had on Aug 9 decided to suspend all kinds of trade with India. Initially, the pharmaceutical industry had appealed to the government to relax rules and allow Indian goods imported before the decision. The government relaxed the rules and the goods already arrived in Pakistani airports/seaports had been cleared.

However, since a large quantity medicines and raw material are imported from India, the industry started demanding that the ban be lifted on them as well. Otherwise, it feared, the country could face the severe crisis of medicines, especially life-saving drugs, in a few weeks.

A Drap official, requesting anonymity, said a meeting had been held last week to discuss the issue. “All stakeholders participated in the meeting and informed it that in a few weeks it would be almost impossible to ensure availability of medicines because the pharmaceutical industry depends on Indian medicines and raw material,” he added.

The official said the meeting was also informed that Indian medicines were available at affordable rates and prices of medicines would increase if the government did not go for an alternative arrangement.

“We compiled all their suggestions and sent them to the Ministry of National Health Services, asking the decision-makers to lift the ban or face criticism from the masses as prices of medicines will increase. The third option for the government was to subsidise the medicines, but it appeared to be difficult given the financial condition of the country,” he said.

On Aug 17, the Employers’ Federation of Pakistan (EFP) had suggested that APIs (active pharmaceutical ingredients) imported from India to manufacture life-saving products by the local industry should be allowed on the condition that pharmaceutical companies would develop alternative sources of APIs within a period agreed upon with Drap.

The EFP feared that immediate suspension of trade with India without any guideline would affect the pharmaceutical manufacturers and result in shortages of medicines in Pakistan.

Another Drap official, requesting anonymity, said that a number of medicines or their APIs were imported from India and in case of continued ban there would be severe crisis of medicines in the local market. Moreover, the official said, the government’s decision would result in increase in smuggling of medicines and APIs and revenue losses in terms of import duties to the national exchequer.

Published in Dawn, September 4th, 2019

https://www.dawn.com/news/1503357/ban-on-import-of-indian-medicines-lifted

 

[litman]

let the issue die down and all sorts of bans will be lifted. after few months indian movies will be there in our cinemas and the general public will be standing in long queues for watching their favorite actors.

 

[Baburfromsarmarkand]

India has a pretty big medicine industry. We don't make meds here.

 

[Enigma SIG]

The people responsible for this blunder of relying on Indian materials for medicine should be hanged.

 

[Jinn Baba]

let the issue die down and all sorts of bans will be lifted. after few months indian movies will be there in our cinemas and the general public will be standing in long queues for watching their favorite actors.

Let Modi star in a couple of bollywood films and he'll be more popular than Imran Khan in Pakistan

India has a pretty big medicine industry. We don't make meds here.

There are other sources for both medicines and raw materials! Even if this ban is lifted, it should be temporary - say three months, so as to allow other sources to be secured without affecting supply.

 

[cricketrulez]

So it is not helping our sick?

You do know many of those on lifetime meds do get it from India. ..but we shouldn't care about these sick and let them die, right?


What is confusing is your inability to grasp simple concepts of limitation...

Pakistan is not making that many drugs...heck we are not making many anything. ..whose fault? Lazy nation who refuses to develop but is interested in importing ...

So is helping the sick more important than helping indian hegemony continue. Monies made from the medicine sale will definitely help India more, both economically and in PR. Why not import from China. After all CPEC shows the cooperation. Can't be that difficult to get medicines from China. Might be ore expensive,but that shouldn't a problem for china to give subsidies.

It also raises the question, where do yo draw the line? Is this the first step in normalizing relation with India? Instigating War has been ruled out. no more non-state actors becos of FATF. Diplomacy is dead. What else is left?

 

[Dubious]

So is helping the sick more important than helping indian hegemony continue. Monies made from the medicine sale will definitely help India more, both economically and in PR. Why not import from China. After all CPEC shows the cooperation. Can't be that difficult to get medicines from China. Might be ore expensive,but that shouldn't a problem for china to give subsidies.

It also raises the question, where do yo draw the line? Is this the first step in normalizing relation with India? Instigating War has been ruled out. no more non-state actors becos of FATF. Diplomacy is dead. What else is left?

We you should have thought of that before...

Would you dare to give your sick family member Chinese meds?

 

[cricketrulez]

We you should have thought of that before...

Would you dare to give your sick family member Chinese meds

Are you saying you can't trust chinese medicine quality? then what about the all the CPEC projects done with chinese collabaration. Pakistan trains run on chinese engines!

also, accept India actions and move on?

 

[Dubious]

Are you saying you can't trust chinese medicine quality? then what about the all the CPEC projects done with chinese collabaration. Pakistan trains run on chinese engines!

also, accept India actions and move on?

I am not saying that...I asked you a question...The question mark is missing but it is still a question addressed to you

 

[cricketrulez]

I am not saying that...I asked you a question...The question mark is missing but it is still a question addressed to you

There is an implication in that question. I'm asking for clarification of that implication.

Option A: you implied not bad thing about chinese medicines, ergo, you will use it for your near and dear

Option B: you implied chinese medicines can't be trusted ergo you will not use it

so what did you imply?

 

[Dubious]

There is an implication in that question. I'm asking for clarification of that implication.

Option A: you implied not bad thing about chinese medicines, ergo, you will use it for your near and dear

Option B: you implied chinese medicines can't be trusted ergo you will not use it

so what did you imply?

I asked your opinion about Chinese medicine which you promote. ..would you give to your loved ones?

 

[cricketrulez]

I asked your opinion about Chinese medicine which you promote. ..would you give to your loved ones?

you sound suspicious of chinese medicines? Can you confirm that?

One can understand your suspicion, after all dogs in US are dying from eating chiinese made food.

In addition, you missed this part >>>>

also, accept India actions and move on?

 

[Dubious]

you sound suspicious of chinese medicines? Can you confirm that?

One can understand your suspicion, after all dogs in US are dying from eating chiinese made food.

In addition, you missed this part >>>>

also, accept India actions and move on?

Question is about you but I see you can't answer then that isn't a discussion now is it?

 

[cricketrulez]

Question is about you but I see you can't answer then that isn't a discussion now is it?

You are the one who made the implication. Guess you don't want to clarify.

I'll give credit you are consistent in not addressing the second part also.

It is sad that Pak accepts china's investments, railway engines, planes and chinese treatment of its muslims but doesn't trust their medicines and resort to importing from evil genocidal indians