Ministry unmoved over misuse of steroids, Interferon NAB says crimes of pharma mafia being protected

ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of National Health Services is alleged to have been involved in safeguarding the commercial interests of certain mafia and pharmaceutical firms at the cost of millions of human lives in Pakistan. Besides other major wrongs and alleged criminalities, the ministry is blamed by none else but the state’s top anti-corruption watchdog — the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) — for allowing the marketing of a Hepatitis-C injection for anti-dengue fever. Adding insult to injury, the said injection is manufactured from the “laboratory grade” material, which is not safe for human consumption.“Allegedly, this action is taken to promote the commercial interests of the firm with mala fide intent,” the NAB said in its seven-page letter to the ministry. The ministry is also accused of keeping silence when steroids are being used injudiciously and irrationally in Herbal, Unani and Ayurvedic medicines. It is said 5,500 kgs of cortisone steroids have been imported and are being used by the alternative medicine manufacturers. The ministry spokesman and officials concerned, when approached, said the NAB letter contained issues which were partly true and partly untrue. The spokesman said the ministry was presently ascertaining the facts and would soon respond to the letter. Regarding the authorisation of substandard Hepatitis-C medication for anti-dengue fever use, the CEO of Drug Regulatory Authority said though the ministry had never authorised it yet it was being probed if the patients were being prescribed the Hepatitis-C medication for dengue fever. About the standard of the said Hepatitis-C medicine, the official said the case was being reviewed to conclude if the NAB information was correct or not.About the use of steroids for alternative system of medicines, the ministry spokesman and the CEO DRA said there had been no regulatory mechanism for alternative system of medicines. In Nov 2012, it is said, a law was enacted to regulate the alternative system of medicines for which the ministry was presently evolving a detailed mechanism. The NAB, which is presently investigating this unique but serious case of corruption risking millions of human lives, noted with concern: “The Ministry is under tremendous pressure of pharmaceutical firms and hence is working to safeguard the commercial interest of certain mafias.” It added, “Interest of the public at large is being severely compromised.”The ministry is advised to ensure that its officials are protected from the direct contact of the representatives of pharma industry. The NAB letter also revealed: “It is learnt that Interferon prepared by Mector Company for Hapatitis-C (Liver patients) is now being marketed for the anti-dengue fever after approval of the ministry. “Allegedly, this action has been taken to promote the commercial interests of the firm with mala fide intent. It is further alleged that the subject Interferon is manufactured from the ‘laboratory grade’ material which is not safe for the human consumption. “In this serious matter relating to public health, the ministry is advised by the NAB to take immediate remedial and punitive action as per law. “The ministry is also asked by the NAB to inquire into the matter and proceed against the officials concerned who had issued NOC without caring for the damages it may case to the masses.” The NAB also pointed out that cortisone steroids were being used injudiciously and irrationally in Herbal, Unani and Ayurvedic medicine preparations whereas the ministry is silent on the issue which can be termed “criminal negligence”. “It is also reported that 5,500 kgs of cortisone steroids are imported and being used by the alternative medicine manufacturers, including Hamdard and Qarshi,” the NAB letter said. In this matter, the NAB advised the ministry to direct the Federal Inspectors of Drugs and provincial governments to take immediate measures ensuring that no medical store sells alternative medicines containing irrational contents of cortisone steroids. The NAB has sought from the ministry the details of biological registrations issued to Hilton Pharma, Scotman and Gets Pharma for the last three years. The names of the officials, who had approved the cases of these companies, were also sought by the NAB. Senior spokesman for the ministry, when approached, said the ministry was presently in the process of reforming the health sector, which includes regulating the alternative medicine system. He said the Drug Regulatory Authority had been set up adding that it was a huge task to register thousands of alternative medicines besides registering each and every Hakeem and other alternative medical practitioners. The CEO Drug Regulatory Authority said the NAB report was under review of the ministry, which was presently investigating different issues raised in it. About the NAB’s contention that the ministry was controlled by the pharma companies, he said this was a wrong perception and added that institutions and business concerns everywhere in the world worked like partners with the basic mandate of patient care. Ansar Abbasi Wednesday, October 09, 2013 From Print Edition