AURORA: What is the basis for the government’s assertion that it has handled the pandemic well?
FAISAL SULTAN: We can talk about numbers and other things, but the most obvious objective when the pandemic began was to ensure that the health system was not overwhelmed. There were two peaks and in both cases, we were able to avoid running out of hospital beds or allowing the health system to trip. At all stages, we had the capacity – this is one way of looking at it. If we look at it from the point of view of mortality per capita, it has been lower than in many regions. In fact, the entire region has done better compared to European countries.
Pakistan to receive first batch of CoronaVac next week
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April 19, 2021
ISLAMABAD: Another 2 million doses of Chinese coronavirus vaccine are expected to arrive in Pakistan by next week.
The local media while quoting sources reported that the new batch will also include CoronaVac vaccine produced by Chinese pharmaceutical firm Sinovac. CoronaVac vaccine was 85 percent effective in preventing hospitalisations and 80 percent effective in preventing deaths, the Chilean government said in a report, adding that the data should prove a game changer from the vaccine more widely.
The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) has already approved CoronaVac vaccine for emergency use in the country. CoronaVac, inactivated vaccine, comprises two doses and stored at -2 to 8°C temperature, sources said.
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April 19, 2021
LAHORE: The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) has directed all provincial governments to ensure that doctors prescribe medicines with their generic names in public and private sector in the country.
The DRAP issued the order in response to public complaints on PM’s citizens’ portal against pharmaceutical companies and doctors’ collusion to rip off of the people through prescription and sale of costlier medicines under brand name.
In a letter to secretaries of health departments of all four provinces, Azad Jammu Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) and Commissioner of Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), DRAP’s Director Pharmacy Services Dr Abdur Rasheed said the citizens had complained through Prime Minister’s Performance Delivery Unit (PMDU) against company-influenced brand-based prescription of medicines by doctors in government and private sectors. This practice adds to the economic burden of the country, and also puts financial
Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan instructs all provinces to promote generic prescriptions by doctors, discourage practice of incentivised prescription
Prescribe medicines without using brand names, Pakistan regulator tells doctors
DRAP says it received complaints through the PM s citizens portal SAMAA | Health - Posted: Apr 19, 2021 | Last Updated: 6 hours ago SAMAA | Health Posted: Apr 19, 2021 | Last Updated: 6 hours ago
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Doctors should write generic (chemical) drug names and not use brand names in their prescriptions, the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan has advised.
In it letter to provincial health departments, DRAP said that complaints about prescription practices were received through the Prime Ministerâs Performance Delivery Unit.
People raised concerns over âcompany-influenced, brand-based prescription of medicinesâ in government and private sectors, the letter said.