By our correspondent
KARACHI: Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal has announced a robust nationwide crackdown on fake and substandard medicines, set to begin on 19 May. This intensified campaign aims to protect public health by targeting counterfeit pharmaceuticals through comprehensive market surveillance and surprise raids triggered by confidential complaints from across the country.
The announcement came during a high-level meeting chaired by Mustafa Kamal, which brought together provincial health ministers, including Punjab’s Khawaja Imran Nazir and Sindh’s Azra Afzal Pechuho. The gathering reviewed current efforts to eradicate counterfeit medicines and reinforce regulatory frameworks that ensure drug safety and efficacy.
A spokesperson for the health ministry stated that, under the federal minister’s leadership, the crackdown will relaunch with extensive inspections and coordinated action. This will involve federal and provincial health authorities working closely with customs, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), and other relevant bodies. The focus will extend beyond the retail market to include stringent monitoring of pharmaceutical factories and distribution networks, aiming to dismantle the supply chains of illegal medicines.
To empower citizens in this effort, the ministry plans to enhance public awareness and provide practical tools to identify fake medicines and report suspicious activity promptly. Central to this initiative is the introduction of a new mobile application developed by the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP). The app will feature barcode scanning and other verification methods, enabling users to quickly check the authenticity of medicines and distinguish genuine products from counterfeits.
