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Drug importers to launch awareness drive

RECORDER REPORT

KARACHI: Pakistan Pharmaceutical Importers Association has decided to launch a drive to create awareness at all levels of government agencies and public at large as well as to apprise the ministry of health about the services provided by pharmaceutical importers.

The association, at a meeting held here and attended by a large number of member companies from all over the country, also decided to meet the Director-General, Health, Government of Pakistan to apprise him of the problem faced by pharmaceuticals importers and to develop a regular liaison and a continued dialogue with the ministry of health to ensure a strong representation of pharmaceutical importers in the ministry.

A committee was formed for collecting data about imports, duties and taxes paid by association members and the member of people employed both directly and indirectly the meeting, chaired by association Chairman, Syed Illias Rizvi, also noted that the members companies have been providing latest research products of high quality in the life-saving segment of medicines in the country with prices much lower that the multinationals.

It was also stressed that the association members are also making available products which, for one reason or the other, are not locally manufactured in Pakistan.

The meeting noted that the medical profession is not fully satisfied with the quality of locally manufactured medicines, except by a few companies.