KARACHI- “The government must take concrete steps to declare bioequivalence mandatory for the local pharmaceutical market so that a commoner could access to the low-priced medicine of international standards in the country. The bioequivalence facility can multiply the exports of Pakistani drugs a thousand times.
As compared to India, Iran and Bangladesh, Pakistan’s share is near to the ground in the international drug market of annual three trillion dollars.”
Prof. Dr. Muhammad Iqbal Choudhary, Director International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS) University of Karachi (UoK), stated this while speaking at the closing ceremony of the 3rd National Symposium on Bioanalytical and Bioequivalence Studies held at ICCBS-UoK.
Over 200 scientists and researchers from various institutions of the country attended the two-day national meeting, organised by of the Center for Bioequivalence Studies and Clinical Research (CBSCR) of Dr. Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research (PCMD), UOK.
Dr. Iqbal Choudhary said that in the international drug market India, Iran and Bangladesh contributed considerable share because of their GNP (Good Manufacturing Practices) and Capacity to Prove Bioequivalence. He urged the government to take tangible steps towards development of quality drugs in the local market with the good research practices.
“If the bioequivalence was mandatory in the local market, the country would have sizeable drugs’ export record. The improved quality of products in Pakistan will add largely to reduced cost of treatment, improved health, and more affordable treatment of diseases. This can therefore have a significant impact on the export potential of the Pakistani companies. Bioequivalence facility can multiply the exports of Pakistani drugs a thousand times to the international market. This sector needs the attention of the government,” he said.
The organsiers of the symposium, Dr. M. Raza Shah and Dr. Naghma Hashmi of ICCBS also spoke at the occasion.
