Islamabad, 26 April (IANS). Pakistani health officials have started emergency preparations to ensure drug supply from alternative sources after suspension of trade relations with India after the Pahalgam terror attack.
This step has been taken in view of the counter-allegations and mutual measures made by both India and Pakistan, including border, trade, diplomatic relations, suspending the Indus Water Treaty (IWT), suspending the IWT, airspace for India, cancellation of visas of citizens of the two countries and giving a short time limit to the citizens of the two countries to leave their respective countries.
The Drug Regulatory Authority Pakistan (DRAP) has called an emergency meeting to discuss and prepare emergency preparation measures to secure the drug supply being imported from India from other alternative sources.
A senior DRAP official said, “No formal notification has been given about the impact of the ban on the drug sector. However, contingency plans are already ready.”
He said, “After the 2019 crisis (after the Pulwama attack), we started preparing for such contingencies. We are not actively considering alternative routes to meet our drug needs.” The closure of medical trade supply to Pakistan from India will have a significant impact on the pharmaceutical industry, as the country’s need for at least 30 to 40 percent of the drug is dependent on imports from India in the case of raw materials, including active drug material (API) and various advanced medical products.
The DRAP official said, “After the closure of trade with India, Pakistan is now looking for alternative sources from China, Russia and many European countries to meet the needs of its drug. Our aim is to ensure the continuous availability of necessary medical supply including anti-rebij vaccine, anti-sakne venom, cancer therapy, monoclonal antibodies and other important biological products.”
Health experts have expressed concern that the availability of drugs, raw materials and medical materials is important for the medical field. He highlighted that if immediate action is not taken to manage the results of the business suspension, the upcoming challenges will increase further.
-IANS
SCH/CBT
