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Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan

The counterfeit conundrum

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counterfeit

KARACHI: The menace of counterfeit drugs is a global phenomenon. But the situation in developing countries like Pakistan is particularly disturbing. It is alleged that the Pakistani market is filled with almost 50 per cent spurious drugs. However, according to a survey conducted last year by Profit, a local publication, more than 40pc of medicines … Read more

Special Plane Carrying 2 Million Sinovac Vaccine Doses From China Arrives In Pakistan

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Islamabad: 500,000 doses of the ‘Sinovac’ vaccine transported from Beijing

A special Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) plane PK 6853 carrying another consignment of two million Sinovac vaccine doses has arrived in Pakistan from the Capital International Airport Beijing on Sunday (today).

PIA Country Manager for China said a special flight PK 6852 had also transported a consignment of one million doses of Sinovac vaccine last Sunday.

The Chinese authorities have vowed to continue the uninterrupted supply of vaccine to help Pakistan battle the ongoing deadly COVID-19 outbreak.

Pakistan has so far received over 13 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines comprising of Sinopharm, Sinovac and CanSino obtained from China.

Earlier, Pakistan had received 1.2 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine to maintain the ongoing immunization drive against the deadly pandemic.

British high commissioner to Pakistan, Christian Turner, had tweeted that Pakistan has received 1.2 million AstraZeneca vaccine doses.

“This pandemic has kept us apart but also brought us together. Welcoming the arrival of the first batch of #COVAX UniofOxford AstraZeneca vaccines in Pakistan; 1.2m doses for world’s 5th largest country,” Turner said on Twitter.

On the other hand, in addition to guidelines that apply to all COVID-19 vaccines, Oxford-AstraZeneca will not be administered to females below the age of 40 years in Pakistan.

Here are detailed guidelines about the AstraZeneca vaccine:

Vaccine Storage

  1. Storage and transportation in maximum shelf life are 6 months stored in a refrigerator between 2 to 8°C.
  2. Once removed from the fridge, maybe stored between 2 to 25°C for up to 6 hours.
  3. Do not freeze the vaccine in any circumstance.
  4. Protect the vaccine from direct exposure to sunlight.
  5. Once punctured, the vial must be used within 6 hours.
  6. Must not be frozen.
  7. During storage keep vials in the outer carton to protect from light.

Who Should Receive The Vaccine?

  1. All male adults over the age of 18 years.
  2. Women over the age of 40 years

Read more

Pakistan Receives 1.2mn Doses of British vaccine AstraZeneca; Guidelines Issued

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Pakistan AstraZeneca vaccine doses

Pakistan has on Saturday (today) received 1.2 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine to maintain the ongoing immunization drive against the deadly pandemic.

British high commissioner to Pakistan, Christian Turner, tweeted that Pakistan has received 1.2 million AstraZeneca vaccine doses.

“This pandemic has kept us apart but also brought us together. Welcoming the arrival of the first batch of #COVAX UniofOxford AstraZeneca vaccines in Pakistan; 1.2m doses for world’s 5th largest country,” Turner said on Twitter.

SAPM on Health Dr. Faisal Sultan has appreciated COVAX and GAVI’s contribution to the collective effort to fight COVID-19.

On the other hand, in addition to guidelines that apply to all COVID-19 vaccines, Oxford-AstraZeneca will not be administered to females below the age of 40 years in Pakistan.

Here are detailed guidelines about the AstraZeneca vaccine:

Vaccine Storage

  1. Storage and transportation in maximum shelf life are 6 months stored in a refrigerator between 2 to 8°C.
  2. Once removed from the fridge, maybe stored between 2 to 25°C for up to 6 hours.
  3. Do not freeze the vaccine in any circumstance.
  4. Protect the vaccine from direct exposure to sunlight.
  5. Once punctured, the vial must be used within 6 hours.
  6. Must not be frozen.
  7. During storage keep vials in the outer carton to protect from light.

Who should receive the Vaccine?

  1. All male adults over the age of 18 years.
  2. Women over the age of 40 years

Read more

Pakistani Scientists Develop Locally-Made Ventilators, DRAP Approves Use

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Pakistani Scientists Develop Locally-Made Ventilators, DRAP Approves Use

The Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) has developed the country’s first intensive care unit (ICU) ventilator, the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) approved its use. The PAEC said in a statement that the vanity letter has been prepared by the scientists and engineers of PAEC keeping in view the required standards. The statement said … Read more

Pakistan Gets More 500,000 Sinopharm Vaccine doses From China

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Pakistan China Sinopharm vaccine

Three special PIA aircrafts have on Saturday reached Beijing to bring a million COVID-19 vaccines to fight the surge against the pandemic across Pakistan. 

The special plane carrying the vaccine arrived at Islamabad’s Nur Khan Airbase. This was the eighth Covid-19 vaccine consignment that arrived from China.

Earlier, China had presented 1.5 million vaccine doses to Islamabad.

On Thursday Pakistan had accepted another cargo of 500,000 doses of a SinoVac coronavirus vaccine from China.

Pakistan on April 18 had reached an agreement for the procurement of China’s CoronaVac vaccine.

CoronaVac comprises two doses and stored at minus-two to eight degree Celsius temperature, sources said.

Out of two million doses from China, Pakistan has so far received 1.5 million vaccines of Sinopharm and 500,000 jabs of Sinovac.

Previously, the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) had approved the Sinopharm vaccine against COVID-19 for people over 60 years of age.

The National Command and Control Centre (NCOC) had said that the Sinopharm vaccine was being administered to people up to the age of 60 years, however, it would now be used to inoculate citizens above 60 years of age too.

The body had also allowed China’s Sinopharm coronavirus vaccine for inoculations to register health workers over 60 years.

Read more

PAF Special Plane Carrying 0.5 Million Doses Vaccine From China Arrives In Pakistan

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PAF Special Plane Carrying 0.5 Million Doses Vaccine From China Arrives In Pakistan

The Foreign Office Spokesperson said that Pakistan has received 0.5 million doses of the SinoVac COVID-19 vaccine from China. In a Tweet, Foreign Office Spokesperson Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri said, “Another PAF special plane carrying 0.5 Million doses of SinoVac Vaccine from China arrived at NurKhan Airbase Islamabad.” Another PAF special plane carrying 0.5 Million doses … Read more

DRAP Prohibits Doctors For Mentioning brand names of medicines In Prescriptions

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DRAP bans brand names of medicines

The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) has on Sunday prohibited the doctors from mentioning brand names of medicines in prescriptions.

The DRAP in an official circular to medical practitioners stated, “The doctors in their prescriptions should write the generic formula of the medicines.”

“The DRAP has made it unlawful for doctors to write the medicine’s manufacturer’s name in their prescriptions,” the circular read.

“It is a common practice that the private, as well as government hospitals’ doctors, write the ‘brand name’ of a medicine in their prescriptions with expensive price.”

“The patients become overburdened to purchase expensive medicines of a specific brand,” the DRAP circular read.

The letter further read, “Now the medical practitioners will write generic formula instead of the brand name of a medicine.”

“Prime Minister’s Performance Delivery Unit has received several complaints with regard to the doctor’s habit to suggest brand names of medicines in their prescriptions,” the DRAP circular concludes.

Read more

Pakistan Receives Second Batch of 500,000 Sinopharm Vaccine Doses From China

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Sinopharm vaccine second batch by China

Pakistan has on Wednesday (today) accepts a contribution of 500,000 Sinopharm vaccine doses from China to maintain the ongoing immunization drive against the deadly pandemic.

The Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Health Dr Faisal Sultan announced that the next batch of Sinopharm vaccine was received by China today.

In his tweet, the minister on health wrote, “The next batch of Sinopharm vaccine was received today. These 500,000 doses will ensure the smooth continuation of our vaccination drive, currently underway for senior citizens. We’re grateful to China for their support. This gesture is a testament to our long-standing friendship.”

Earlier in the day, Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar tweeted, “Highest daily vaccination rate of over 41 thousand vaccinations achieved yesterday [Tuesday].

Umar said that out of 41,000 vaccinations, 28,424 were administered to elder citizens across Pakistan.

Furthermore, he urged elderly people to register themselves for the vaccination program.

Previously, the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) had approved the Sinopharm vaccine against COVID-19 for people over 60 years of age.

The National Command and Control Centre (NCOC) had said that the Sinopharm vaccine was being administered to people up to the age of 60 years, however, it would now be used to inoculate citizens above 60 years of age too.

The body had also allowed China’s Sinopharm coronavirus vaccine for inoculations to register health workers over 60 years.

Read more

COVID-19: Dr. Faisal Sultan receives his first dose of Sinopharm vaccine

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COVID-19 Sinopharm vaccine Dr Faisal

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Dr Faisal Sultan has on Monday received his first dose of COVID-19 vaccine and is ‘feeling fine’.

Taking to Twitter, Dr Faisal announced that he has received first dose of the Sinopharm vaccine by sharing a picture.

“I registered myself as a healthcare worker on Covid.gov.pk/vaccine and received a PIN & instructions. Got my 1st dose of vaccine (Sinopharm) today & feeling fine. If you are a health professional (below 60 years of age), please get vaccinated now. Protect yourself and others.”

In another tweet, he outlined how healthcare workers over the age of 60 can get vaccinated next month.

“If you are a healthcare worker and over the age of 60, please send your CNIC to 1166 and you will be vaccinated using the AstraZeneca vaccine in early March, inshallah,” he wrote.

Sinopharm COVID-19 Vaccine Gifted By China

Pakistan had received 500,000 doses of Sinopharm’s COVID-19 vaccine gifted by China by a special Pakistan Air Force (PAF) plane.

However, SAPM on Health Dr Faisal Sultan and Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi had informed about the Sinopharm vaccine’s arrival.

Taking to Twitter, SAPM Dr Faisal Sultan thanked China and everyone who made this happen and said the National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC) and provinces played an instrumental role in tackling COVID.

“I salute our front-line healthcare workers for their efforts & they’ll be first to get vaccinated,” he tweeted.

Read more

Over 72,000 Health, Frontline Workers Vaccinated Against Covid-19 In Pakistan: NCOC

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Over 72,000 Health, Frontline Workers Vaccinated Against Covid-19 In Pakistan: NCOC

The National Command and Operations Center (NCOC) has said that the provinces are being provided with vaccines for frontline health works and Sindh province has been provided the most vaccines. A statement issued by the NCOC said that about 72,882 frontline health workers have been vaccinated in Pakistan. In addition, the NCOC said that regarding … Read more

UAE Embassy In Islamabad Vaccinates Staff Against COVID-19

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UAE Embassy In Islamabad Vaccinates Staff Against COVID-19

UAE Embassy in Islamabad vaccinated all employees of Embassy and representative offices against Covid-19. According to the press release issued, UAE Embassy in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan organized a vaccination program to vaccinate the employees and all cadres of the Embassy and its representative offices against the Covid-19. The vaccination program continued for two … Read more

“Face mask will protect against the contagious virus,” says Murtaza Wahab

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Murtaza Wahab Sindh

Sindh government spokesperson Murtaza Wahab has on Thursday stressed on following coronavirus standard operating procedures (SOPs), saying that a face mask will “protect us against the contagious disease until we get the vaccine”. “Masks are basically [like] a vaccine. Everyone can wear masks, wash their hands and play a role in preventing the COVID-19,” he … Read more

Pakistan held fruitful talks with China in order to obtain COVID vaccine: FM

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FM Qureshi COVID vaccine

Foreign Minister (FM) Shah Mahmood Qureshi has on Thursday announced a good news that Pakistan will likely to receive the first shipment of the COVID-19 vaccine from China by January 31, 2021.

Talking to media in Islamabad, FM Qureshi told Chinese Foreign Minister, in a telephonic conversation, said that Pakistan can air lift the medicine.

The foreign minister said that he told his Chinese counterpart that Pakistan requires 1.1 million doses of the vaccine in view of its large population.

He further informed that the Chinese side also promised to make available the required quantity of the medicine by the end of next month.

FM Qureshi also said that China has also agreed to manufacture the COVID vaccine in Pakistan.

He said that first cache of the vaccine is a grant from China to be provided to Pakistan free of cost as a goodwill gesture.

Earlier, Prime Minister Imran Khan had directed to expedite supple of COVID vaccines across the country.

The Prime Minister directed the Cabinet Committee to expedite the steps taken for procurement and supply of approved vaccines.

Earlier, Pakistan has approved authorized China’s Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use, making it the second vaccine to get local approval.

According to sources, the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) has approved the Sinopharm vaccine for emergency use across the country.

The decision was taken in meetings held between January 14 and 18 after reviewing vaccine results data submitted by the National Institute of Health (NIH).

The development allows federal and provincial governments, and the private sector to import the Chinese vaccine.

Read more

Pakistan To Import India-Made Covid-19 Vaccine

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Pakistan To Import India-Made Covid-19 Vaccine

To restrain the Coronavirus pandemic in Pakistan, the country’s private sector will import the vaccine from the British company AstraZeneca, which is manufactured in neighbouring India. Permission has been granted to Sindh Medical Stores (SMS), a Karachi-based private pharmaceutical company, to import vaccines developed by AstraZeneca. The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) has recently … Read more

PM Imran directs to expedite procurement, supply of COVID vaccines

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PM directs to expedite vaccine supply

Prime Minister Imran Khan has on Tuesday directed to expedite supple of COVID vaccines across the country. According to the details, a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Coronavirus vaccines was held under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Imran Khan today. The meeting was attended by Muhammad Hammad Azhar, Asad Umar, Dr Faisal Sultan and … Read more

Sinopharm COVID vaccine approved for emergency use in Pakistan: sources

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Sinopharm UAE China

Pakistan has on Monday (today) approved authorized China’s Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use, making it the second vaccine to get local approval.

According to sources, the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) has approved the Sinopharm vaccine for emergency use across the country.

The decision was taken in meetings held between January 14 and 18 after reviewing vaccine results data submitted by the National Institute of Health (NIH).

The development allows federal and provincial governments, and the private sector to import the Chinese vaccine.

Sinopharm, a state-run Chinese firm, is developing two COVID-19 vaccines. Pakistan will purchase 1.2 million doses of the corona vaccine from China.

Moreover, Pakistan is also running phase III clinical trials of another Chinese vaccine from CanSino Biologics’, led by the National Institute of Health.

The government of Pakistan has granted permission on Saturday to use Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine (AZD1222) in an emergency situation.

Earlier in December 2020, Federal Minister for Science and Technology Chaudhry Fawad Hussain said Pakistan will purchase 1.2 million COVID-19 vaccine doses from China’s Sinopharm.

On December 30, Sinopharm announced that phase III trials showed the vaccine was 79% effective.

Coronavirus Situation in Pakistan

Pakistan has reported 46 more coronavirus-related deaths in past 24 hours, taking the overall death toll to 10,977.

According to the latest statistics of the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) the COVID-19 has claimed 46 more lives and 1,920 fresh infections were reported.

In the past 24 hours, as many as 1,589 patients have recovered from the virus in a day and 2,348 patients are in critical condition.

The total count of active cases is 34,986.

Read more

COVID-19: AstraZeneca Vaccine Approved For Emergency Use In Pakistan

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Denmark Stops Using AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccine Shots

Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) approved the use of the AstraZeneca’s COVID vaccine in Pakistan in case of emergency. This is the first coronavirus vaccine to be approved in Pakistan. Dr Faisal Sultan, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister for Health, told international news agency Reuters that DRAP has allowed the use of the AstraZeneca … Read more

Asad Umar authorized the procurement of more than a million vaccines

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Asad Umar

Federal Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar has on Wednesday said that he has authorized the procurement of more than one million vaccines.

The chief of the National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC), Asad Umar took to Twitter the number “will cover all frontline health workers”.

He said what remains now is for DRAP (Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan) to approve a vaccine.

Umar said that the government aims to deploy the vaccines within the first quarter of 2021.

Earlier, Asad Umar had tested positive for the novel Coronavirus.

The minister took to Twitter and wrote, ” Just got my covid test result and it is positive. Will be isolating at home.”

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DRAP issues notification for hike in prices of 94 life-saving drugs

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DRAP

On Wednesday, the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) has notified that hike in prices of 94 life-saving drugs. According to the details, the notification issued after approval of the federal cabinet. According to the notification, the increased rates of these medicines will remain frozen until June 31, 2021. On September 22, the cabinet had … Read more

Medicines prices increased for the second time in a month

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Medicines

The Government of Pakistan has approved the second hike in the prices of medicines in a month, by up to 22 to 35 percent. According to the details, The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) increased the prices of 253 medicines by up to 22 to 35 percent. In this regard, a notification has also … Read more

DRAP approves Pakistan’s first COVID-19 testing kit

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DRAP

Federal Minister for Science and Technology Chaudhry Fawad Hussain has announced that Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) has approved country’s first COVID testing kit. He announced on his twitter that: Another landmark achieved…. DRAP has approved Pakistan first COVID testing kit, Congratulations to @Official_NUST and our brilliant scientists …you people have made us proud … Read more

DRAP permits local production Anti COVID 19 medicine says Dr. Zafar

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DRAP

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on National Health Services, Dr. Zafar Mirza has said Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan has allowed the local production of raw material of cholorquine as part of efforts to cope with coronavirus challenge. In a statement today, he said the DRAP has also permitted clinical trials of plasma therapy … Read more

Govt. determines to ensure easy availability of life saving drugs: PM

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Prime Minister Imran Khan

Prime Minister Imran Khan Wednesday said the government was determined to ensure easy availability of life saving drugs along with other essential medicines at affordable prices because it attached high priority to the life of its people. According to the details, The prime minister was chairing a meeting over the availability of necessary drugs in … Read more

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