Pharma Industry Report WHO

56
PAKISTAN PHARMACEUTICAL COUNTRY PROFILE

Transcript of Pharma Industry Report WHO

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PAKISTAN

PHARMACEUTICALCOUNTRY PROFILE

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 Pakistan. Pharmaceutical Country Profile

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Foreword

This 2010 Pharmaceutical Country Profile for Pakistan has been produced by

the Ministry of Health with support of the World Health Organization.

This document contains information on structures, process and outcomes of the

pharmaceutical sector in Pakistan. Some of the data comes from global sources

(e.g. the World Health Statistics) or from surveys conducted in the previous

years, while other pieces of information have been collected at country level in

2010. The sources of data for each piece of information are presented in the

tables that can be found at the end of this document.

On the behalf of the Ministry of Pakistan, I wish to express my appreciation

towards Dr Khalid Saeed Bukhari from WHO for his contribution to the data

collection and to the development of this profile.

It is my hope that partners, researchers and all those that are interested in the

pharmaceutical sector of Pakistan will find this profile a useful tool in their

activities.

Name: Prof Dr Rashid Jooma

Function in the Ministry of Health: Director General, Ministry of Health,

Date: 11 November 2010

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Table of content

Foreword...................................................................................iii

Table of content ..........................................................................iv

Introduction ................................................................................1 

Section 1 - Health and Demographic Data .............................................3

Section 2 - Health Services ...............................................................4

Section 3 - Policy Issues...................................................................8

Section 4 - Regulation................................................................... 11

Section 5 - Medicines Financing ....................................................... 15

Section 6 - Pharmaceutical procurement and distribution in the public sector 18

Section 7 - Selection and rational use of medicines................................ 19

Section 8 - Household data/access.................................................... 21 

References................................................................................ 22

ANNEX ..................................................................................... 25

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Introduction

This Pharmaceutical Country Profile provides data on structures, processes and

outcomes of the pharmaceutical sector of Pakistan. The aim is to put together

existing information and to make all relevant information on the

pharmaceuticals sector available to the public in a user-friendly format. In

2010, country profiles similar to this one have been developed for 13 pilot

countries. During 2011, the World Health Organization plans to support all WHO

Member States to develop similar country profiles.

The information is categorized in 8 sections, namely: (1) Health and

Demographic data, (2) Health Services, (3) Policy Issues, (4) Regulation, (5)

Medicines Financing, (6) Supply of Pharmaceuticals, (7) Rational Use of

Medicines, and (8) Household Surveys. The indicators have been divided into

two categories, namely "core" (most important) and "supplementary" (useful if

available). The narrative profile is based only on the core indicators; while the

tables in the annexes present all indicators. For each piece of information, we

have tried to indicate the year and source of the data; these are used to buildthe references in the profile and are also indicated in the tables. If key

national documents are available on-line, links are provided to the source

documents so that the user can easily access these documents

The selection of indicators for the profiles has involved all technical units

working in the Essential Medicines Department of the World Health

Organization as well as experts from WHO Regional and Country Offices,

Harvard Medical School, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (known as Fiocruz),

University of Utrecht, the Austrian Federal Institute for Health Care and

representatives from 13 pilot countries. Data collection in the pilot countries

was conducted using a user-friendly electronic questionnaire that included a

comprehensive glossary. Countries were requested not to conduct any

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additional surveys, but only to enter the results from previous surveys and to

provide information available at the central level. To facilitate the work of

national counterparts, the questionnaires were pre-filled using all data

available at WHO HQ before being sent out to countries. A coordinator was

nominated for each of the 13 pilot countries. The coordinator for Pakistan was

Dr Khalid Saeed Bukhari.

The completed questionnaires were then used to produce the country profiles.

In order to do this in a structured and efficient manner, a text template was

developed. Member states took part in the development of the profile and,

once the final product was ready, an officer from the Ministry of Health

certified the quality of the information and gave formal permission to publish

the profile on the web site of WHO.

This profile will be regularly updated by country teams. If you have any

suggestions on corrections to make please send them to Dr Khalid Saeed

Bukhari, [email protected], WHO Country Office, Park Road,

Islamabad.

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 Pakistan. Pharmaceutical Country Profile

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Section 1 - Health and Demographic Data

This section gives an overview of the demographics and health status of

Pakistan. 

1.1 Demographics and Socioeconomic Indicators

The total population of Pakistan in 2008 was 176,952,000 [1] with an annual

population growth rate of 2.2%. The annual GDP growth rate is 6.0%. The GNI

per capita is US$ 980 [2].

1.2 Mortality and Causes of Death

The life expectancy at birth for men is 63 years and for women is 64 years. Theinfant mortality rate is 73/1,000 live births. For children under the age of 5,

the mortality rate is 90/1,000 live births. The maternal mortality rate is

320/100,000 live births [1].

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Section 2 - Health Services 

This section provides information regarding health expenditure and human

resources in Pakistan. The contribution of the public and private sector to

overall health expenditure is shown and the specific information on

pharmaceutical expenditure is also presented. Data on human resources for

health and for the pharmaceutical sector is provided as well.

2.1 Health Expenditures

In Pakistan, the total annual expenditure on health (THE) in 2008 was PKR

299,651 million (US$ 3,934 million). The total health expenditure is 2.9% of the

GDP. The annual expenditure on health per capita was PKR 1,828 (US$ 24).

The government1 annual expenditure on health accounts for 29.7% of the total

expenditure on health, with a total per capita public expenditure on health of

PKR 543 (US$ 7).The government annual expenditure on health represents 3.3%

of the total government budget.

The private health expenditure covers the remaining 70.3% of the total health

expenditure.

The total pharmaceutical expenditure (TPE) in Pakistan for 2007 was PKR

112,000 million (US$ 1,844 million). The pharmaceutical expenditure per capita

was PKR 683 (US$ 11.3). The pharmaceutical expenditure accounts for 1.29% of

the GDP and makes up 47.28% of the total health expenditure (figure 1) [3].

1 According to the NHA definition, by "government expenditure" it is meant all expenditurefrom public sources, like central government, local government, insurance funds and parastatalcompanies.

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Public expenditure on pharmaceuticals represents 27.1 %2 of the total

expenditure on pharmaceuticals (figure 2). The public expenditure on

pharmaceuticals per capita in 2004 was PKR 118.6 (US$ 2.04). 

FIGURE 1: Share of Total Pharmaceutical Expenditure as percentage of the Total Health

Expenditure in 2007.

Source: NHA 2007

53%

47% TPE

Other

 

FIGURE 2: Share of public and private sector to Total Pharmaceutical Expenditure (2004) 

Source: 2004 World Medicines Report

27%

73%

Public sector

Private sector

 

2 The share of public expenditure in pharmaceuticals as a percentage of the TPE is based on

data from 2004. Any calculations involving separate public and private pharmaceutical

expenditures are therefore based on 2004 data. 

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The total private expenditure on pharmaceuticals in 2004 was PKR 51,759

million (US$ 888.18 million) [3] [4]. The annual growth rate of the total

pharmaceuticals market value in 2009 was 17%. The annual growth rate of the

generic pharmaceuticals market value in 2009 was 20% [5].

2.2 Health Personnel

The health workforce is described in the table below and in figure 3 (and 4).

Licensed pharmacists (all sectors) 0.61/10,000

Pharmacists in the public sector 0.092/10,000

Pharmaceutical technicians and assistants (all

sectors)

1.22/10,000 [6]

Physicians (all sectors) 7.8/10,000 [5]

Nursing and midwifery personnel (all sectors) 2.89/10,000 [1]

Figure 3: The density of the Health Workforce in Pakistan 

0 2 4 6 8 10

Pharmacists

Physicians

Nursing and

midwifery

personnel

/10,000 population

 

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Figure 4: Distribution on Pharmaceutical Personnel in 2010

Source: Pharmacy Council, 2010

33%

67%

Pharmacists

Pharmceutical

technicians and

assistants

 In Pakistan, there is a strategic plan for pharmaceutical human resource

development in place [6].

2.3 Health Infrastructure

The health centre and hospital statistics are described in the table below. 

Hospitals 0.058/10,000

Hospital beds 10/10,000

Primary health care units and centres 0.33/10,000

Licensed pharmacies 0.43/10,000 [1] [5]

In Pakistan medicines are mostly dispensed through medical stores and less so

through pharmacies [6].

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Section 3 - Policy Issues

This section addresses the main structure of the pharmaceutical policy in

Pakistan. Information about the capacity for manufacturing medicines and

regulations regarding patents is also provided.

3.1 Policy Framework

In Pakistan, a National Health Policy (NHP) exists. It was updated in 2001 [7].

An official National Medicines Policy document exists in Pakistan. It was

updated in 1997.

The NMP covers:

Selection of essential medicines  Yes Yes Yes Yes

Medicines financing NoNoNoNo 

Medicines pricing  Yes Yes Yes Yes 

Procurement  Yes Yes Yes Yes 

Distribution  Yes Yes Yes Yes 

Regulation  Yes Yes Yes Yes

Pharmacovigilance,  Yes Yes Yes Yes 

Rational use of medicines  Yes Yes Yes Yes 

Human resource development  Yes Yes Yes Yes 

Research  Yes Yes Yes Yes 

Monitoring and evaluation  Yes Yes Yes Yes 

Traditional Medicine  Yes Yes Yes Yes 

A NMP implementation plan does not exist. Access to essential

medicines/technologies as part of the fulfillment of the right to health, is

recognized in the constitution or national legislation [8]. There are official

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written guidelines on medicines donations. The pharmaceutical policy

implementation is not being regularly monitored [5].

There is a formal code of conduct for public officials [9]. There is a whistle-

blowing mechanism allowing individuals to raise a concern about wrongdoing

occurring in the pharmaceutical sector of Pakistan. This is through the Central

Licensing and Registration Board, Quality Control Board, Price Review Board

and the Consumer Right Protection Organization [10].

3.2 Intellectual Property Laws and Medicines

Pakistan is a member of the World Trade Organization [11]. The country has a

patent law. National Legislation has been modified to implement the TRIPS

Agreement. Pakistan is eligible for the transitional period to 2016.

Current laws contain the following (TRIPS) flexibilities and safeguards:

Compulsory licensing provisions that can be applied for

reasons of public health

 Yes Yes Yes Yes

Bolar exceptions  Yes Yes Yes Yes

Parallel importing provisions  Yes Yes Yes Yes 

The country is engaged in initiatives to strengthen capacity to manage and

apply intellectual property rights to contribute to innovation and promote

public health [12]. There are no legal provisions for data exclusivity for

pharmaceuticals. Legal provisions do not exist for patent extension. Laws do

not exist for linkage between patent status and marketing authorization [10].

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Section 4 - Regulation 

This section covers a broad range of pharmaceutical regulatory policy,

institutions and practices in Pakistan

4.1 Regulatory Framework

In Pakistan, there are legal provisions establishing the powers and

responsibilities of the Medicines Regulatory Authority (MRA). The MRA is a part

of the MoH. It has its own website. The URL address is

http://www.dcomoh.gov.pk. The MRA is involved in

harmonization/collaboration initiatives. These include WHO and the ECO. An

assessment of the medicines regulatory system has not been conducted in the

last five year [5].

4.2 Marketing Authorization

In Pakistan, legal provisions require a marketing authorization (registration) for

all pharmaceutical products on the market [13]. Explicit and publicly available

criteria exist for assessing applications for marketing authorization of

pharmaceutical products. The number of pharmaceutical products registered inPakistan is 50,000. Legal provisions require the MRA to make the list of

registered pharmaceutical products publicly available. Currently, the existing

data is under the process of computerization. Medicines are registered by their

INN (International Non-proprietary Names) or Brand name + INN. Legal

provisions require a fee to be paid for Medicines Market Authorization

(registration) based on applications [10].

4.3 Regulatory Inspection

In Pakistan, there are legal provisions allowing for appointment of government

pharmaceutical inspectors [14]. The Regulatory Authority has 305 inspectors.

Legal provisions exist permitting inspectors to inspect premises where

pharmaceutical activities are performed and requiring inspection to be

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performed. Inspection is a pre-requisite for licensing facilities. Inspection

requirements are the same for public and private facilities. All international

standards are followed and implemented to provide safe, qualitative &

effective medicines to the community [10].

4.4 Import Control

Legal provisions exist requiring authorization to import medicines [15]. Laws

exist that allow the sampling of imported products for testing. Legal provisions

exist requiring importation of medicines through authorized ports of entry.

Regulations or laws exist to allow for inspection of imported pharmaceutical

products at the authorized port of entry [10].

4.5 Licensing

In Pakistan, there are legal provisions requiring manufacturers to be licensed

and requiring manufacturers to comply with Good Manufacturing Practices

(GMP) [8] [16] [17]. Good Manufacturing Practices have been published by the

government. Legal provisions exist requiring importers, wholesalers and

distributors to be licensed [15]. Legal provisions exist requiring wholesalers and

distributors to comply with Good Distributing Practices. Good DistributionPractices have been published by the government. There are legal provisions

requiring pharmacists to be registered and requiring private pharmacies to be

licensed [18]. National Good Pharmacy Practice Guidelines are not published by

the government [10].

4.6 Market Control and Quality Control

In Pakistan, there are legal provisions for controlling the pharmaceutical

market. A laboratory exists in Pakistan for Quality Control testing. Samples are

collected by government inspectors for undertaking post-marketing surveillance

testing. In the past 2 years, 60,000 samples were taken for quality control

testing. 1,194 of the samples tested failed to meet the quality standards. The

results are not publicly available [10].

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4.7 Medicines Advertising and Promotion

In Pakistan, legal provisions exist to control the promotion and/or advertising

of prescription medicines. The Drug Control Organization is responsible for

regulating promotion and/or advertising of medicines. There are legal

provisions prohibiting direct advertising of prescription medicines to the public

and requiring a pre-approval for medicines advertisements and promotional

materials. Guidelines/Regulations exist for advertising and promotion of non-

prescription medicines. A national code of conduct exists concerning

advertising and promotion of medicines by marketing authorization holders.

Adherence to it is voluntary. The code contains a formal process for complaints

and sanctions. The list of the complaints and sanctions for the last two years is

not publicly available [19] [10].

4.8 Clinical Trials

In Pakistan, there are legal provisions requiring authorization for conducting

Clinical Trials by the MRA. Laws require the agreement by an ethics committee

or institutional review board of the Clinical Trials to be performed. Registration

of the clinical trials into a registry is required by law [20] [10].

4.9 Controlled Medicines

Pakistan is signatory to the:

- Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961

- 1972 Protocol amending the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961

- Convention on Psychotropic Substances 1971

- United Nations Convention against the Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and

Psychotropic Substances, 1988

Laws exist for the control of narcotic and psychotropic substances, and

precursors. The annual consumption of Morphine is 0.006 mg/capita [21] [22]. 

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4.10 Pharmacovigilance

In Pakistan, there are legal provisions requiring the Marketing Authorization

holder to continuously monitor the safety of their products and report to the

MRA. Laws about monitoring Adverse Drug Reactions (ADR) exist in Pakistan. A

national Pharmacovigilance centre linked to the MRA does not exist in Pakistan.

An official standardized form for reporting ADRs is used in Pakistan [23]. A

national ADR database does not exist in Pakistan. In the past 2 years, no ADR

reports are sent to the WHO database in Uppsala. ADRs are not monitored in

public health programs (example TB, HIV/AIDS) [10]. 

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Section 5 - Medicines Financing 

In this section, information is provided on the structure of user fees for

medicines and on the existence of public programmes providing free medicines.

Policies and regulations in place that affect the prices of medicines (e.g. price

control and taxes) are presented.

5.1 Medicines Coverage and Exemptions

In Pakistan, there are public programmes providing free medicines to:

Legal provisions exist, but are not implemented due to financial restraints.

Public programmes exist providing free medicines for:

All diseases  Yes Yes Yes Yes

Any non-communicable diseases  Yes Yes Yes Yes 

Malaria  Yes Yes Yes Yes 

Tuberculosis  Yes Yes Yes Yes 

Sexually transmitted diseases  Yes Yes Yes Yes 

HIV/AIDS  Yes Yes Yes Yes 

EPI Vaccines for children (expanded

programme of immunization)

 Yes Yes Yes Yes 

In Pakistan, there is a public health service, public health insurance, social

insurance or other sickness fund that provides at least partial medicines

Patients who cannot afford them  Yes Yes Yes Yes 

Children under 5  Yes Yes Yes Yes 

Pregnant women  Yes Yes Yes Yes 

Elderly persons  Yes Yes Yes Yes 

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coverage. It provides coverage for medicines that are on the Essential

Medicines List (EML) for inpatients and outpatients. Private health insurance

schemes provide medicines coverage. They are not required to provide at least

partial coverage for medicines that are on the EML. Private insurers offer full

reimbursement for medicines, but they are not obliged to follow the EML [5]

[10].

5.2 Patients Fees and Copayments

In the public sector of Pakistan, at the point of delivery, there are no

copayments/fee requirements for consultations and for medicines. Yet, in the

private sector there might be variable fees. Revenue from fees or from the sale

of medicines is not used to pay the salaries or supplement the income of public

health personnel in the same facility [5] [10].

5.3 Pricing Regulation for the Private Sector (not including the non-profit

voluntary sector)

In Pakistan, there are legal or regulatory provisions affecting pricing of

medicines [24]. These provisions are aimed at the level of manufacturers,

wholesalers and retailers. The government runs an active national medicinesprice monitoring system for retail prices. Regulations exist mandating that

retail medicine price information should be publicly accessible. The

information is made publically available through the Official Gazette

Notification.

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5.4 Prices, Availability and Affordability of Key Medicines

In 2004, a WHO/HAI pricing survey was conducted in Pakistan.

In public sector, median availability of originator medicines was 0% and

availability of generic medicines was 3.3%. The private sector had higher

availability (54.2% for originator and 31.3% for generics).

Prices of medicines have been compared to international reference prices3 and

expressed as a ratio of the international price (e.g. a price ratio of 2 would

mean that the price is two times the international reference price). Since

prices have been collected for a basket of medicines, the median price ratio

has been selected to represent the situation in the country.

Public procurement prices were below international reference prices (IRP) for

generics and above IRP for originators: the Median Price Ratio for originators

was 2.24 and for generics 0.57. As for patient prices, the private sector had

higher prices (3.36 for originators and 2.26 for generics).

Affordability of medicines is measured in terms of number of days of wage

necessary to purchase treatment for a condition. The wage is the one of the

lowest paid government worker. In the public sector of Pakistan, the treatmentwith co-trimoxazole for a child respiratory infection is for free. In the private

sector, it would take 0.3 days of wage to purchase treatment using generic

medicines and 0.4 days using originators [25].

5.5 Duties and Taxes on Pharmaceuticals (Market)

There are duties on imported raw materials (10%) and imported finished

products (10%). There is however no value-added tax or any other tax on

pharmaceuticals [26].

3 The International reference price is the median of prices offered by international suppliers(both for profit and not profit) as report by MHS International Price Indicator Guide(http://erc.msh.org/mainpage.cfm?file=1.0.htm&module=DMP&language=English). For moreinformation on the methodology WHO/HAI pricing survey, you can download a free copy of themanual at http://apps.who.int/medicinedocs/documents/s14868e/s14868e.pdf.

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Section 6 - Pharmaceutical procurement and distribution in the

public sector 

This section provides a short overview on the procurement and distribution ofpharmaceuticals in the public sector of Pakistan.

6.1 Public Sector Procurement

The public sector procurement in Pakistan is centralized and decentralized. It

is centralized under the responsibility of a procurement agency that is part of

the MoH. The public sector tender bids are publicly available and public sector

awards are publicly available. Procurements are based on prequalification of

suppliers. Medical Store Depots in provinces call quotations from a list of

prequalified companies [5] [10].

6.2 Public Sector Distribution

The government supply system department in Pakistan has not a Central

Medical Store at a National Level, but there are stores at a district level. There

are national guidelines on Good Distribution Practices (GDP). There is a

licensing authority that issues GDP licenses. The licensing authority does

accredit public distribution facilities. Lists of GDP certified warehouses and

distributors do not exist in the public sector [5] [10].

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Section 7 - Selection and rational use of medicines 

This section presents the structures and policies that are in place in Pakistan

for selection of essential medicines and promotion of rational drug use.

7.1 National Structures

National Standard Treatment Guidelines (STGs) for the most common illnesses

have been produced/endorsed by the MoH in Pakistan. The national STGs were

updated in 2006. A National Essential Medicines List (EML) exists in Pakistan

and it was lastly updated in 2007 [27]. There are 345 of medicines on the EML.

No public or independently funded national medicines information centre

provides information on medicines to prescribers, dispensers and consumers.

Public education campaigns on rational medicine use topics have not been

conducted in the last two years. A survey on rational use of medicines has not

been conducted in the previous two years. A national programme or committee,

involving government, civil society, and professional bodies, does not exist to

monitor and promote rational use of medicines. A written National Strategy to

contain antimicrobial resistance does not exist [5] [10].

7.2 Prescribing

Legal provisions in Pakistan exist to govern the licensing and prescribing

practices of prescribers. Legal provisions do not exist to restrict dispensing by

prescribers. There are no regulations requiring hospitals to organize/develop

Drug and Therapeutics Committees (DTCs).

The core medical, nursing and paramedical training curricula include

components on:

The concept of EML NoNoNoNo 

Use of STGs NoNoNoNo 

Pharmacovigilance NoNoNoNo 

Problem based pharmacotherapy NoNoNoNo 

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Mandatory continuing education that includes pharmaceutical issues is not

required for doctors, nurses and paramedical staff.

Prescribing by INN name is not obligatory in the public and private sector [28].

The average number of medicines prescribed per patient contact in public

health facilities is 2.85 [29].

7.3 Dispensing 

Legal provisions in Pakistan exist to govern dispensing practices of

pharmaceutical personnel. The core pharmacist training curriculum includes

components on:

The concept  Yes Yes Yes Yes

Use of STGs  Yes Yes Yes Yes

Drug information  Yes Yes Yes Yes 

Clinical Pharmacy  Yes Yes Yes Yes 

Medicine Supply Management  Yes Yes Yes Yes

Mandatory continuing education that includes pharmaceutical issues is not

required for pharmacists.

Substitution of generic equivalents at the point of dispensing is allowed in

public sector facilities, but not in the private sector. Antibiotics are sold over-

the-counter without a prescription. Injectable medicines are sold over-the-

counter without a prescription [30].

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Section 8 - Household data/access

This section provides information about household surveys held in the past in

Pakistan regarding actual access to medicines by normal and poor households.

In Pakistan, 91.2% of adult patients with an acute condition took all medicines

prescribed. of the patients not taking all medicines, 68% did not because they

could not afford them.

Of adult patients with an acute condition coming from poor households, 89.4%

took all the medicines prescribed. Of patients not taking all medicines, 66.9%

did not because they could not afford them.

Of adult patients with chronic conditions, 83.8 % took all medicines prescribed.

Of adult patients with chronic conditions coming from a poor household, 70.5%

took all medicines prescribed. Of the patients not taking all medicines, 37.5%

did not because they could not afford them.

Of children with an acute condition coming from poor household, 85.5% took all

medicines prescribed [31].

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References

[1] World Health Statistics. Geneva, World Health Organization, 2010. Available

through the Global Health Observatory: http://apps.who.int/ghodata/, 20-07-

2010.

[2] Country data, Pakistan. Washington, the World Bank, 2008. Available at:

http://data.worldbank.org/country/pakistan, 21-07-2010.

[3] National health accounts: country information Pakistan. Geneva, World

Health Organization, 2008. Available at:

http://www.who.int/nha/country/pak/en/, 21-07-2010.

[4] Lowe RF, Montagu D. Legislation, regulation, and consolidation in the retail

pharmacy sector in low income countries. Southern Med Review (2009) 2; 2:35-

44

[5] The Federal Ministry of Health of Pakistan, Islamabad. Website available at:

http://202.83.164.26/wps/portal/Moh, 21-07-2010.

[6] Pharmacy Council of Pakistan, Islamabad.

[7] National health policy 2001, the way forward. Islamabad, Ministry of Health;

Government of Pakistan, 2001. Available at: LINK, DATE

[8] National drug policy. Islamabad, Drugs Control Organization; Ministry ofHealth of Pakistan, 1997. Available at:

http://www.dcomoh.gov.pk/publications/ndp.php, 21-07-2010.

[9] Civil service of Pakistan, Islamabad. Website available at:

http://www.css.com.pk, 21-07-2010.

[10] Drugs Control Organization; Ministry of Health of Pakistan, Islamabad.

Website available at: http://www.dcomoh.gov.pk/, 21-07-2010.

[11] International trade statistics. Geneva, World Trade Organization, 2009.

Available at:

http://www.wto.org/english/res_e/statis_e/its2005_e/its05_toc_e.htm, 21-

07-2010.

[12] Intellectual property organization of Pakistan, Islamabad. Website

available at: http://www.ipo.gov.pk/, 21-07-2010.

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[13] Registration of drugs; Drug Act 1976.

[14] The Drugs Rules, 1976 (federal inspectors, federal drug laboratory and

federal government analysts).

[15] The Drugs Rules, 1976 (import and export).

[16] Regulation of manufacture of drugs, DRUG ACT, 1976.

[17] The Drugs Rules (Licensing Registering and Advertising) 1976.

[18] Pharmacy Act, 1967. PLACE.

[21] Report of the International Narcotics Control. Vienna, International

Narcotics Control Board, 2009. Available at: www.incb.org, 08-06-2010.

[22] Anti narcotics policy 2010. Islamabad, Narcotics Control Division; Ministry

of Narcotics Control, Government of Pakistan, 2010.

[23] Adverse drug reaction reporting form. Islamabad, Ministry of Health.

[24] Price review committee. Islamabad, Ministry of Health Pakistan, 1999.

[25] Prices, availability and affordability of medicines in Pakistan. Islamabad,

the Network for Consumer Protection, 2006. Available at:

http://www.haiweb.org/medicineprices/surveys/200407PK/survey_report.pdf,

21-07-2010.

[26] Notification customs. Islamabad, Government of Pakistan; Ministry of

Finance, Economic Affairs, statistics & revenue, 2006.[27] National essential medicines list of Pakistan. Islamabad, Ministry of Health;

Government of Pakistan, 2007.

[26] Drug Act; Advertising of Drugs, 1976.

[27] The Drugs Rules (Research), 1978.

[28] Pakistan Medical & Dental Council, Islamabad. Available at:

http://www.pmdc.org.pk/, 21-07-2010.

[29] Rational use survey Pakistan.

[30] Zahid A. Butt, Anwar H. Gilani. Quality of pharmacies in Pakistan:

a cross-sectional survey . International Journal for Quality in Health Care 2005;

Volume 17, Number 4: pp. 307–313

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[31] World health survey, report of Pakistan. WHO Regional office for the

Eastern Mediterranean (EMRO), 2003. Available at:

http://www.who.int/healthinfo/survey/whspak-pakistan.pdf, 21-07-2010

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Pakistan Pharmaceutical Country Profile

ANNEX

Survey Data

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Respondents to the questionnaire:

Syed Khalid Saeed Bukhari

+92-(0)300-4005935

[email protected] 

Sheikh Ansar Ahmad

+92-(0)51-9202566

[email protected]

Mr. Arshad Khan

Dr. Rasheed

0092-(0)51-9203943

[email protected]

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Section 1 Health and Demographic data1.01 Demographic and Socioeconomic Indicators

Core Questions

Population, total (,000) 163,902 2007 World HealthStatistics

Population growth rate (Annual %) 2.2 2008 World Bank,Population

GDP growth (Annual %) 6.0 2008 World Bank

GNI per capita (US$ currentexchange rate)

980 2008 World Bank

Supplementary questions

Population < 15 years(% of total population)

36 2007 World HealthStatistics

Population > 60 years

(% of total population)

6 2007 World Health

StatisticsUrban population(% of total population)

36 2007 World HealthStatistics

Fertility rate, total(Births per woman)

3.5 2007 World HealthStatistics

Population living with less than$1/day (international PPP) (%)

22.6 2005 World HealthStatistics

Population living below nationallydefined poverty line (%)

9.1 2005 World Bank

Adult literacy rate, 15+ years(% of total population)

54.9 2007 World HealthStatistics

1.02 Mortality and Causes of DeathCore questions

Life expectancy at birth for men(Years)

63 2007 World HealthStatistics

Life expectancy at birth for women(Years)

64 2007 World HealthStatistics

Infant mortality rate, between birthand age 1(/1,000 live births)

73 2007 World HealthStatistics

Under 5 mortality rate(/1,000 live births)

90 2007 World HealthStatistics

Maternal mortality ratio

(/100,000 live births)

320 2005 World Health

StatisticsSupplementary questions

Adult mortality rate for both sexesbetween 15 and 60 years(/1,000 population)

204 2007 World HealthStatistics

Neonatal mortality rate(/1,000 live births)

53 2004 World HealthStatistics

Age-standardized mortality rate bynon-communicable diseases

717 2004 World HealthStatistics

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( /100,000 population)

Age-standardized mortality rate bycardiovascular diseases(/100,000 population)

409 2004 World HealthStatistics

Age-standardized mortality rate bycancer ( /100,000 population)

103 2004 World HealthStatistics

Mortality rate for HIV/AIDS(/100,000 population)

3 2007 World HealthStatistics

Mortality rate for tuberculosis(/100,000 population)

28 2007 World HealthStatistics

Mortality rate for Malaria (/100,000population)

1 2006 World HealthStatistics

Section 2 Health Services

2.01 Health ExpendituresCore Questions

Total annual expenditure on health(millions US$ average exchangerate)

3,934 2008 Calculated for theNHA

Total annual expenditure on health(millions NCU)

299,651 2008 National HealthAccounts

Total health expenditure as % ofGross Domestic Product

2.9 2008 NHA

Total annual expenditure on healthper capita (US$ average exchangerate)

24 2008 NHA

Total annual expenditure on healthper capita (NCU)

1,828 2008 Calculated for theNHA

General government annualexpenditure on health (millions US$average exchange rate)

1,147 2008 Calculated for theNHA

General government annualexpenditure on health (millions NCU)

88,934 2008 NHA

Government annual expenditure onhealth as percentage of totalgovernment budget (% of totalgovernment budget)

3.3 2008 NHA

Government annual expenditure on

health as % of total expenditure onhealth (% of total expenditure onhealth)

29.7 2008 NHA

Annual per capita governmentexpenditure on health (US$ averageexchange rate)

7 2008 NHA

Annual per capita governmentexpenditure on health (NCU)

543 2008 Calculated for theNHA

Private health expenditure as % of 70.3 2008 NHA

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total health expenditure (% of totalexpenditure on health)

Total pharmaceutical expenditure(millions US$ current exchange rate)

1,844 2008 Calculated for theNHA

Total pharmaceutical expenditure(millions NCU)

112,000 2007 NHA

Total pharmaceutical expenditure percapita (US$ current exchange rate)

11.3 2007 Calculated for theNHA

Total pharmaceutical expenditure percapita (NCU)

683 2007 Calculated for theNHA

Pharmaceutical expenditure as a %of GDP (% of GDP)

1.29 2007 Calculated for theNHA

Pharmaceutical expenditure as a %of Health Expenditure (% of totalhealth expenditure)

47.28 2007 Calculated for theNHA

Share of public expenditure onpharmaceuticals as percentage oftotal expenditure on pharmaceuticals(%)

27.1 2004 World MedicinesSituation Report

Annual growth rate of totalpharmaceuticals market value (%)

17 2009 MoH

Annual growth rate of genericpharmaceuticals market value (%)

20 2009 MoH

Supplementary Questions

Social security expenditure as % ofgovernment expenditure on health(% of government expenditure onhealth)

4.4 2008 NHA

Private out-of-pocket expenditure as

% of private health expenditure (% ofprivate expenditure on health)

82.4 2008 NHA

Premiums for private prepaid healthplans as % of total private healthexpenditure (% of private expenditureon health)

0.3 2008 NHA

2.02 Health Personnel and Infrastructure

Core Questions

Total number of pharmacistslicensed/registered to practice in yourcountry

10,000 2010 Pakistan PharmacyCouncil

Total number of pharmacists working

in the public sector

1,500 2010 Pakistan Pharmacy

CouncilTotal number of pharmaceuticaltechnicians and assistants

20,000 2010 Pakistan PharmacyCouncil

A strategic plan for pharmaceuticalhuman resource development is inplace in your country?

Yes 2010 Pakistan PharmacyCouncil

Total number of physicians 127,893 2009 MoH

Total number of nursing and 47,380 2005 WHS

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midwifery personnel

Total number of hospitals 965 2010 MoH

Total number of hospitals bed 163,902 2007 WHS

Total number of primary health careunits and centres

5,467 2010 MoH

Total number of licensed pharmacies 7,000 2009 MoHComments In Pakistan mostly medical store exists and few

pharmacies

Supplementary Questions

Starting annual salary for a newlyregistered pharmacist in the publicsector - NCU

15,000 2010 Pakistan PharmacuCouncil

Are there accreditation requirementsfor pharmacy schools?

Yes

Is the Pharmacy Curriculum regularlyreviewed?

Yes

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Section 3 Policy issues3.01 Policy Framework

Core Questions

National Health Policy exists. If yes,please write year of the most recentdocument in the "year" field.

Yes 2001 MoH

National Medicines Policy officialdocument exists. If yes, please writethe year of the most recent documentin the "year" field.

Yes 1997 MoH

Group of policies addressingpharmaceuticals exist.

Yes 1997 MoH

National Medicines Policy covers thefollowing components:

Selection of Essential Medicines Yes

Medicines Financing No

Medicines Pricing Yes

Medicines Procurement Yes

Medicines Distribution Yes

Medicines Regulation Yes

Pharmacovigilance Yes

Rational Use of Medicines Yes

Human Resource Development Yes

Research Yes

Monitoring and Evaluation Yes

Traditional Medicine Yes

National medicines policyimplementation plan exists. If yes,please write year of the most recentdocument in the "year" field.

No

Access to essentialmedicines/technologies as part of thefulfillment of the right to health,recognized in the constitution ornational legislation?

Yes 1997 MoH

There are official written guidelineson medicines donations. Please

attach document or provide URLbelow *

Yes 2005 MoH

Is pharmaceutical policyimplementation being regularlymonitored/assessed?

No

Is there a national good governancepolicy?

Unknown

Multisectoral No

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For the pharmaceutical sector No

A policy is in place to manage and

sanction conflict of interest issues inpharmaceutical affairs.

Unknown

There is a formal code of conduct forpublic officials.

Yes 2009 Civil Service ofPakistan

Is there a whistle-blowing mechanismallowing individuals to raise aconcern about wrongdoing occurringin the pharmaceutical sector of yourcountry (ombudsman)?

Yes 1976 Drug ControlOrganization

Please describe: Through Central Licensing and Registration Board,Quality Control Boar, Price Review Board andConsumer right protection organization

3.02 Intellectual Property Laws and MedicinesCore Questions

Country is a member of the WorldTrade Organization

Yes 2009 Int. Trade Statistics

Legal provisions provide for grantingof Patents on pharmaceuticals

Yes 2000 MoH/IntellectualPropertyOrganizationPakistan

National Legislation has beenmodified to implement the TRIPSAgreement

Yes 2000 MoH/IntellectualPropertyOrganizationPakistan

Current laws contain (TRIPS)flexibilities and safeguards

Yes 2000 MoH/IntellectualPropertyOrganizationPakistan

Country is eligible for the transitionalperiod to 2016

Yes 2007 Intellectual PropertyOrganizationPakistan

Which of the following (TRIPS)flexibilities and safeguards arepresent in the national law?

Compulsory licensing provisions thatcan be applied for reasons of public

health

Yes 2000 MoH/IntellectualProperty

OrganizationPakistan

Bolar exception Yes 2000 MoH/IntellectualPropertyOrganizationPakistan

Are parallel importing provisionspresent in the national law?

Yes 2000 MoH/IntellectualProperty

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OrganizationPakistan

The country is engaged in initiativesto strengthen capacity to manageand apply intellectual property rightsto contribute to innovation and

promote public health

Yes 2000 MoH/IntellectualPropertyOrganizationPakistan

Are there legal provisions for dataexclusivity for pharmaceuticals

No 2010 Drug ControlOrganization/ MoH

Legal provisions exist for patentextension

No 2010 Drug ControlOrganization/ MoH

Legal provisions exist for linkagebetween patent status and marketingauthorization

No 2010 Drug ControlOrganization/ MoH

Comments The Words 'Bolar Exception' were not used in theofficial documents, but the concept of Bolar Exceptionexists

3.03 Manufacturing

Core Questions

Number of licensed pharmaceuticalmanufacturers in the country

478 2009 MoH

Country has manufacturing capacityfor:

2010 MoH

R&D to discover new activesubstances

Yes

Production of pharmaceutical startingmaterials (APIs)

Yes

Production of formulations frompharmaceutical starting material

Yes

Repackaging of finished dosageforms

Yes

Percentage of market share by valueproduced by domestic manufacturers(%)

47 2009 MoH

Supplementary Questions 

Percentage of market share byvolume produced by domesticmanufacturers (%)

55 2009 MoH

Number of multinationalpharmaceutical companiesmanufacturing medicines locally

20 2009 MoH

Number of manufacturers that areGMP certified

478 2009 MoH

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Section 4 Regulation4.01 Regulatory Framework

Core Questions

Are there legal provisions

establishing the powers andresponsibilities of the medicinesregulatory authority?

Yes 2010 MoH

Part of MOH Yes

Semi autonomous agency No

The MRA has its own website Yes 2010 MoH

- If yes, please provide MRA Website address (URL)

www.dcomoh.gov.pk

The MRA is involved inharmonization/ collaboration

initiatives

Yes 2010 MoH

- If yes, please specify WHO, ECO

An assessment of the medicinesregulatory system has beenconducted in the last five years.

No MoH

Supplementary Questions 

Formal code of conduct exists forstaff involved in medicines regulation

Yes 2009 MoH

Medicines Regulatory Authority getsfunds from regular budget of thegovernment.

Yes 2009 MoH

Medicines Regulatory Authority isfunded from fees for servicesprovided.

No 2009 MoH

Medicines Regulatory Authorityreceives funds/support from othersources

Yes 2009 MoH

- If yes, please specify WHO JPRM forcapacity buildingsupport

Revenues derived from regulatoryactivities are kept with the regulatoryauthority

No 2009 MoH

The Regulatory Authority is using a

computerized informationmanagement system to store andretrieve information on registration,inspections, etc.

No 2009 MoH

4.02 Marketing Authorization (Registration)

Core Questions

Legal provisions require a marketingauthorization (registration) for all

Yes 2010 Drug ControlOrganization/MoH

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pharmaceutical products on themarket

Explicit and publicly available criteriaexist for assessing applications formarketing authorization ofpharmaceutical products

Yes 2010 Drug ControlOrganization/MoH

Number of pharmaceutical productsregistered in your country

50,000 2010 Drug ControlOrganization/MoH

Legal provisions require the MRA tomake publicly available theregistered pharmaceutical withdefined periodicity

Yes 2010 Drug ControlOrganization/MoH

- If yes, how frequently updated Currently existing data is under process ofcomputerization

Medicines are registered by their INN(International Non-proprietaryNames) or Brand name + INN

Yes 2010 Drug ControlOrganization/MoH

Legal provisions require paying a fee

for Medicines Market Authorization(registration) applications

Yes 2010 Drug Control

Organization/MoH

Supplementary Questions 

Legal provisions require marketingauthorization holders to provideinformation about variations to theexisting marketing authorization

Yes 2010 Drug ControlOrganization/MoH

Legal provisions require to publishthe Summary Product Characteristics(SPCs) of the medicines registered

Yes 2010 Drug ControlOrganization/MoH

Legal provisions require theestablishment of an expert committee

involved in the marketingauthorization process

Yes 2010 Drug ControlOrganization/MoH

Certificate for PharmaceuticalProducts in accordance with theWHO Certification scheme isrequired as part of the marketingauthorization application

No 2010 Drug ControlOrganization/MoH

Legal provision require declaration ofpotential conflict of interests for theexperts involved in the assessmentand decision-making for registration

Yes 2010 Drug ControlOrganization/MoH

Legal provisions allow applicants to

appeal against MRAs decisions

Yes 2010 Drug Control

Organization/MoHRegistration fee - the amount perapplication for pharmaceuticalproduct containing New ChemicalEntity,NCE (US$)

15,000 2010 Drug ControlOrganization/MoH

Registration fee - the Amount perapplication for a multisourcepharmaceutical product (US$)

8,000 2010 Drug ControlOrganization/MoH

Time limit for the assessment of a 6 2010 Drug Control

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marketing authorization application(Months)

Organization/MoH

4.03 Regulatory Inspection

Core Questions

Legal provisions exist allowing forappointment of governmentpharmaceutical inspectors

Yes 2010 Drug ControlOrganization/MoH

Does the Regulatory Authority haveinspectors?

Yes 2010 Drug ControlOrganization/MoH

If yes, how many? 305 2010 Drug ControlOrganization/MoH

Legal provisions exist permittinginspectors to inspect premises wherepharmaceutical activities areperformed

Yes 2010 Drug ControlOrganization/MoH

Legal provisions exist requiringinspection to be performed

Yes 2010 Drug ControlOrganization/MoH

Inspection is a pre-requisite forlicensing of facilities Yes 2010 Drug ControlOrganization/MoH

Inspection requirements are thesame for public and private facilities

Yes 2010 Drug ControlOrganization/MoH

Comments All internation standards are followed andimplemented to provide safe quality & efficious drugto the community

4.04 Import Control

Core Questions

Legal provisions exist requiringauthorization to import medicines

Yes 2010 Drug ControlOrganization/MoH

Legal provisions exist allowing the

sampling of imported products fortesting

Yes 2010 Drug Control

Organization/MoH

Legal provisions exist requiringimportation of medicines throughauthorized ports of entry

Yes 2010 Drug ControlOrganization/MoH

Legal provisions exist allowinginspection of importedpharmaceutical products at theauthorized port of entry

Yes 2010 Drug ControlOrganization/MoH

4.05 Licensing

Core Questions

Legal provisions exist requiringmanufacturers to be licensed If yesplease provide documents below.Please attach document or provideURL below *

Yes 2010 Drug ControlOrganization/MoH

Legal provisions exist requiringmanufacturers to comply with Goodmanufacturing Practices (GMP)

Yes 2010 Drug ControlOrganization/MoH

GMP requirements are published bythe government. If yes, please

Yes 2010 Drug ControlOrganization/MoH

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provide reference or URL below *

Legal provisions exist requiringimporters to be licensed

Yes 2010 Drug ControlOrganization/MoH

Legal provisions exist requiringwholesalers and distributors to belicensed

Yes 2010 Drug ControlOrganization/MoH

Legal provisions exist requiringwholesalers and distributors tocomply with Good DistributingPractices

Yes 2010 Drug ControlOrganization/MoH

National Good Distribution Practicerequirements are published by thegovernment

Yes 2010 Drug ControlOrganization/MoH

Legal provisions exist requiringpharmacists to be registered

Yes 2010 Drug ControlOrganization/MoH

Legal provisions exists requiringprivate pharmacies to be licensed

Yes 2010 Drug ControlOrganization/MoH

Legal provision exist requiring publicpharmacies to be licensed

Unknown 2010 Drug ControlOrganization/MoH

National Good Pharmacy PracticeGuidelines are published by thegovernment

No 2010 Drug ControlOrganization/MoH

Supplementary Questions 

Legal provisions require thepublication of different categories ofall pharmaceutical facilities licensed

Yes 2010 Drug ControlOrganization/MoH

4.06 Market Control and Quality Control

Core Questions

Legal Provisions for controlling the

pharmaceutical market exist

Yes 2010 Drug Control

Organization/MoHDoes a laboratory exist in the countryfor Quality Control testing?

Yes 2010 Drug ControlOrganization/MoH

If not, does the regulatory authoritycontract services elsewhere?

No 2010 Drug ControlOrganization/MoH

Samples are collected bygovernment inspectors forundertaking post-marketingsurveillance testing

Yes 2010 Drug ControlOrganization/MoH

How many Quality Control sampleswere taken for testing in the past twoyears?

60,000 2010 Drug ControlOrganization/MoH

What is the total number of samplestested in the previous two years thatfailed to meet quality standards?

1,194 2010 Drug ControlOrganization/MoH

Results of quality testing in past twoyears are publicly available

No 2010 Drug ControlOrganization/MoH

Comments The DRUGS (FEDERAL INSPECTORS, FEDERALDRUG LABORATORY and FEDERALGOVERNMENT ANALYSTS) RULES, 1976, cover allissues in this section.

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4.07 Medicines Advertising and Promotion

Core Questions

Legal provisions exist to control thepromotion and/or advertising ofprescription medicines

Yes 2010 DrugOrganization/MoH

Who is responsible for regulating,promotion and/or advertising ofmedicines? Please describe:

Drug Control Organization, MoH, under Drug(Advertising) Rules, 1976

Legal provisions prohibit directadvertising of prescription medicinesto the public

Yes 2010 DrugOrganization/MoH

Legal provisions require a pre-approval for medicinesadvertisements and promotionalmaterials

Yes 2010 DrugOrganization/MoH

Guidelines/Regulations exist foradvertising and promotion of non-prescription medicines

Yes 2010 DrugOrganization/MoH

A national code of conduct existsconcerning advertising andpromotion of medicines by marketingauthorization holders and is publiclyavailable

Yes 2010 DrugOrganization/MoH

If yes, the code of conduct applies todomestic manufacturers only,multinational manufacturers only, orboth

Yes 2010 DrugOrganization/MoH

If yes, adherence to the code isvoluntary

Yes 2010 DrugOrganization/MoH

If yes, the code contains a formal

process for complaints and sanctions

Yes 2010 Drug

Organization/MoH

If yes, list of complaints andsanctions for the last two years ispublicly available

No 2010 DrugOrganization/MoH

Comments The Drug (Advertising) Rules, 1976, cover all theissues discussed in this section.

4.08 Clinical trials

Core Questions

Legal provisions exist requiringauthorization for conducting ClinicalTrials by the MRA

Yes 2010 DrugOrganization/MoH

Legal provisions exist requiring theagreement by an ethics committee/institutional review board of theClinical Trials to be performed

Yes 2010 DrugOrganization/MoH

Legal provisions exist requiringregistration of the clinical trials intointernational/national/regional registry

Yes 2010 DrugOrganization/MoH

Supplementary Questions 

Legal provisions exist for GMP Yes 2010 Drug

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compliance of investigationalproducts

Organization/MoH

Legal provisions require sponsor,investigator to comply with GoodClinical Practices (GCP)

Yes 2010 DrugOrganization/MoH

National GCP regulations are

published by the Government.

Yes 2010 Drug

Organization/MoHLegal provisions permit inspection offacilities where clinical trials areperformed

Yes 2010 DrugOrganization/MoH

Comments Drugs (Research) Rules, 1978, cover all the issuesdiscussed in this section.

4.09 Controlled Medicines

Core Questions

The country is a signatory toconventions

Single Convention on Narcotic

Drugs, 1961

Yes 2009 International

Narcotics ControlBoard

The 1972 Protocol amending theSingle Convention on NarcoticDrugs, 1961

Yes 2009 INCB

Convention on PsychotropicSubstances 1971

Yes 2009 INCB

United Nations Convention againstthe Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs andPsychotropic Substances, 1988

Yes 2009 INCB

Laws for the control of narcotic andpsychotropic substances, and

precursors exist.

Yes 2009 Ministry of NarcoticControl

Annual consumption of Morphine(mg/capita)

0.006 2007 INCB

Supplementary Questions

The laws and regulations for thecontrol of narcotic and psychotropicsubstances, and precursors hasbeen reviewed by a WHOInternational Expert or PartnerOrganization to assess the balancebetween the prevention of abuse andaccess for medical need

Yes 2010 MoH

If yes, year of review. Please attach acopy of the review or provide link to itif available on the web *

National AntiNarcotic Policy

Annual consumption of Fentanyl(mg/capita)

0.0018 2009 MoH

Annual consumption of Pethidine(mg/capita)

0.006 2009 MoH

Annual consumption of Oxycodone(mg/capita)

0.00045 2009 MoH

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Annual consumption of Phenobarbital(mg/capita)

0.0106 2008 MoH

4.10 Pharmacovigilance

Core Questions

There are legal provision in the

Medicines Act that provides forpharmacovigilance activities as partof the MRA mandate

Unknown

Legal provisions exist requiring theMarketing Authorization holder tocontinuously monitor the safety oftheir products and report to the MRA

Yes 2010 Drug ControlOrganization/MoH

Legal provisions about monitoringAdverse Drug Reactions (ADR) existin your country

Yes 2010 MoH

A national Pharmacovigilance centrelinked to the MRA exists in yourcountry

No

If a national pharmacovigilancecenter exists in your country, ananalysis report has been published inthe previous two years. Please attachdocument or provide URL below *

No

If a national pharmacovigilancecenter exists in your country, itpublishes an ADR bulletin

No

An official standardized form forreporting ADRs is used in yourcountry. If yes, please attachdocument below *

Yes 2010 MoH

A national Adverse Drug Reactionsdatabase exists in your country.

No

Are ADR reports set to the WHOdatabase in Uppsala?

No

ADRs are monitored in at least onepublic health program (for exampleTB, HIV, AIDS)?

No

Supplementary Questions

Feedback is provided to reporters No

The ADR database is computerized No

Medications errors (MEs) are

reported.

No

There is a risk management planpresented as part of product dossiersubmitted for MarketingAuthorization?

No

In the past two years, who hasreported ADRs?

Doctors Yes

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Nurses Yes

Pharmacists Yes

Consumers Yes

Pharmaceutical Companies Yes

Was there any regulatory decision

based on local PV data in the last 2years?

No

Are there training courses inPharmacovigilance?

Yes MoH

If yes, how many people have beentrained in the past two years?

300 MoH

Comments Ministry of Health is working on the proposal ofestablishing the Pharmacovigilance Center inPakistan, training on Pharmacovigilance wasconducted in collaboration with WHO through JPRM

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Section 5 Medicines Financing5.01 Medicines Coverage and Exemptions

Core Questions

If a public programme providing freemedicines exists, medicines areavailable free-of-charge for:

Patients who cannot afford them Yes 2009 MoH

Children under 5 Yes 2009 MoH

Pregnant women Yes 2009 MoH

Elderly persons Yes 2009 MoH

Please describe/explain your yesanswers for questions above

Legal provision exists, but are actually notimplemented due to financial constraints

If a public programme providingsome/all medicines free exists, the

following types of medicines are freeAll medicines for all conditions Yes 2009 MoH

Any non-communicable diseases Yes 2009 MoH

Malaria medicines Yes 2009 MoH

Tuberculosis medicines Yes 2009 MoH

Sexually transmitted diseasesmedicines

Yes 2009 MoH

HIV/AIDS medicines Yes 2009 MoH

EPI vaccines Yes 2009 MoH

Does a public health service, publichealth insurance, social insurance or

other sickness fund provides at leastpartial medicines coverage

Yes 2009 MoH

Does it provide coverage for medicinesthat are on the EML for inpatients

Yes

Does it provide coverage for medicinesthat are on the EML for outpatients

Yes

Does it provide at least partialmedicines coverage for inpatients

Yes

Does it provide at least partialmedicines coverage for outpatients

Yes

Do private health insurance schemesprovide any medicines coverage?

Yes 2009 MoH

If yes, is it required to provide at leastpartial coverage for medicines that areon the EML?

No

Comments Private insurers offer full reimbursement formedicines, but they are obliged to follow the EML

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5.02 Patients Fees and Copayments

Core Questions

In your health system, at the point ofdelivery, are there anycopayment/fee requirements forconsultations

No 2009 MoH

In your health system, at the point ofdelivery, are there anycopayment/fee requirements formedicines

No 2009 MoH

Is revenue from fees or from the saleof medicines used to pay the salariesor supplement the income of publichealth personnel in the same facility

No 2009 MoH

Please describe the patient fees andcopayments system

In the public sector there are no fees, in the privatesector there are variable fees

5.03 Pricing Regulation for the Private Sector

Core QuestionsAre there legal or regulatoryprovisions affecting pricing ofmedicines

Yes 2009 MoH

If yes, are the provisions aimed atManufacturers

Yes 2009 MoH

If yes, are the provisions aimed atWholesalers

Yes 2009 MoH

If yes, are the provisions aimed atRetailers

Yes 2009 MoH

Government runs an active nationalmedicines price monitoring system

for retail prices

Yes 2009 MoH

Regulations exists mandating thatretail medicine price informationshould be publicly accessible

Yes 2009 MoH

-if yes, please explain how theinformation is made publicallyavailable

Official Gazzette Notification

5.04 Prices, Availability and Affordability

Core Questions

Please state if a medicines pricesurvey using the WHO/HAImethodology has been conducted in

the past 5 years in your country.

Yes

Basket of key medicines

Publicprocurem

entPublicpatient

Privatepatient

Orig.Availability(one or bothof)

Mean (%)

LPG

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Orig.0 54.2Median (%)

LPG3.3

31.3

Orig.2.24 3.36Price Median

Price Ratio

LPG 0.57 2.26

Orig.0 0.4Affordability

Days’ wagesof the lowestpaid govtworker forstandardtreatmentwith co-trimoxazole fora childrespiratoryinfection

Number ofdays'wages LPG

0 0.3

5.06 Duties and Taxes on Pharmaceuticals (Market)

Core Questions

There are duties on imported activepharmaceutical ingredients (APIs)

Yes 2006 Ministry of Finance

There are duties on imported finishedproducts

Yes 2006 Ministry of Finance

VAT (value-added tax) or any othertax on pharmaceuticals

No 2006 Ministry of Finance

Supplementary Questions

Amount of duties on imported activepharmaceutical ingredients, APIs (%)

10 2006 Ministry of Finance

Amount of duties on importedfinished products (%)

10 2006 Ministry of Finance

Amount of VAT on pharmaceuticalproducts (%)

0 2006 Ministry of Finance

Comments There are variations on the amount of duties charged,depending on the item/ingredient

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Section 6 Pharm.procurement and distribution6.01 Public Sector Procurement

Core Questions

Public sector procurement is 2009 MoH

Decentralized Yes

Centralized and decentralized No

If public sector procurement is whollyor partially centralized, it is under theresponsibility of a procurementagency which is:

2009 MoH

Part of MoH Yes

Semi-Autonomous No

Autonomous No

A government procurement Agencywhich procures all public goods

No

Public sector tenders bids documentsare publicly available

Yes 2009 MoH

Public sector awards are publiclyavailable

Yes 2009 MoH

Procurements are based onprequalification of suppliers

Yes 2009 MoH

If yes, please describe how it works Medical Store Depots in provinces call quotationsfrom list of prequalified companies

Comments Previously the Medical Store Depot was functional,now it is partially functional due to decentralization

Supplementary Questions Is there a written public sectorprocurement policy?. If yes, pleasewrite the year of approval in the"year" field.

Yes 2004 Public ProcurementRegulatory Authority

Are there provisions giving priority inpublic procurement to goodsproduced by local manufacturers?

Unknown

The key functions of the procurementunit and those of the tendercommittee are clearly separated

Yes 2004 MoH

A process exists to ensure the quality

of products procured

Yes 2004 MoH

If yes, the quality assurance processincludes pre-qualification of productsand suppliers

Yes

If yes, explicit criteria and proceduresexist for pre-qualification of suppliers

Yes

If yes, a list of pre-qualified suppliersand products is publicly available

Unknown

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List of samples tested during theprocurement process and results ofquality testing is available

Yes 2009 MoH

Which of the following tendermethods are used in public sectorprocurement:

National competitive tenders Yes

International competitive tenders No

Direct purchasing No

6.02 Public Sector Distribution

Core Indicators

The government supply systemdepartment has a Central MedicalStore at National Level

No 2009 MoH

There are national guidelines onGood Distribution Practices (GDP)

Yes 2009 MoH

There is a licensing authority that

issues GDP licenses

Yes 2009 MoH

If a licensing authority exists,does it accredit publicdistribution facilities?

Yes 2009 MoH

List of GDP certified warehouses inthe public sector exists

No MoH

List of GDP certified distributors inthe public sector exists

No MoH

Comments There are stores at district level, but no NationalMedical Store

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Section 7 Selection and rational use7.01 National Structures

Core Questions

National Standard TreatmentGuidelines (STGs) for most commonillnesses are produced/endorsed bythe MoH. If yes, please insert year oflast update of STGs in the "year"field.

Yes 2006 MoH

If yes, STG's are applied to Primarycare. Please use the "year" field towrite the year of last update ofprimary care STGs.

Unknown

If yes, STG's are applied toSecondary (hospitals). Please use

the "year" field to write the year oflast update of secondary care STGs.

Unknown

If yes, STG's are applied toPaediatric conditions. Please usethe "year" field to write the year oflast update of paediatric conditionSTGs.

Unknown

National essential medicines list(EML) exists. If yes, please write yearof last update of EML in the "year"field.

Yes 2009 MoH

If yes, number of medicines on theEML

345

If yes, there is a written process forselecting medicines on the EML

Unkown

If yes, the EML is publicly available Unknown

A public or independently fundednational medicines information centreprovides information on medicines toprescribers, dispensers andconsumers

No

Public education campaigns onrational medicine use topics have

been conducted in the previous twoyears

No

A survey on rational use of medicineshas been conducted in the previoustwo years

No

A national programme or committee(involving government, civil society,and professional bodies) exists tomonitor and promote rational use of

No

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medicines

A written National Strategy exists tocontain antimicrobial resistance. Ifyes, please write year of last updateof the strategy in the "year" field andattach document or provide URL

below.

No

Supplementary Questions 

The EML includes formulationsspecific for children

Yes 2009 MoH

There are explicit documentedcriteria for selection of medicines inthe EML

Unknown

There is a formal committee or otherequivalent structure for the selectionof products on the national EML

Unknown

If yes, provide the officialdocumentation establishing the

committee *If yes, conflict of interest declarationsare required from members ofnational EML committee

No

National medicines formulary exists No 2009 MoH

Is there a funded national inter-sectoral task force to coordinate thepromotion of appropriate use ofantimicrobials and prevention ofspread of infection?

No 2009 MoH

A national reference laboratory/orany other institution has responsibility

for coordinating epidemiologicalsurveillance of antimicrobialresistance

No 2009 MoH

7.02 Prescribing

Core Questions

Legal provisions exist to govern thelicensing and prescribing practices ofprescribers.

Yes 2010 Pakistan Medical &Dental Council

Legal provisions exist to restrictdispensing by prescribers.

No

Regulations require hospitals toorganize/develop Drug and

Therapeutics Committees (DTCs)

No

Mandatory continuing education thatincludes pharmaceutical issues isrequired for Doctors

No

Mandatory continuing education thatincludes pharmaceutical issues isrequired for Nurses

No

Mandatory continuing education that No

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includes pharmaceutical issues isrequired for Paramedical staff

Prescribing by INN name isobligatory in:

Private sector No

Public sector No

Average number of medicinesprescribed per patient contact inpublic health facilities (mean)

2.85 2003 Rational Use Survey

Supplementary Questions

A professional association code ofconduct exists governingprofessional behaviour of doctors

Unknown

A professional association code ofconduct exists governingprofessional behaviour of nurses

Unknown

Diarrhoea in children treated with

ORS (%)

16.1 2007 Demographich Health

Survey of Pakistan7.03 Dispensing

Core Questions

Legal provisions exist to governdispensing practices ofpharmaceutical personnel

Yes

The basic pharmacist trainingcurriculum includes components on:

Concept of EML Yes

Use fo STGs Yes

Drug Information Yes

Clinical pharmacology YesMedicines supply management Yes

Mandatory continuing education tatincludes rational use of medicines isrequired for pharmacists

No

Substitution of generic equivalents atthe point of dispensing in publicsector facilities is allowed

Yes

Substitution of generic equivalents atthe point of dispensing in privatesector facilities is allowed

No

Antibiotics are sold over-the-counter

without a prescription

Yes 2005 International Journal

for Quality in HealthCare

Injectable medicines are sold over-the-counter without a prescription

Yes 2005 International Journalfor Quality in HealthCare

Supplementary Questions

A professional association code ofconduct exists governing

Yes

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professional behaviour ofpharmacists

Are the following categories of staffprescribing prescription-onlymedicines at primary care level in thepublic sector?

Doctors YesNurses No

Pharmacists No

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Section 8 Household data/access8.01 Data from Household Surveys

Core Questions

Adults with an acute condition in two-week recall period who took allmedicines prescribed by anauthorized prescriber (%)

91.2 2003 World Health Survey

Adults with acute conditions nottaking all medicines because theycannot afford them (%)

68.0 2003 World Health Survey

Adults (from poor households) withan acute health condition in two-week recall period who took allmedicines prescribed by anauthorized prescriber (%)

89.4 2003 World Health Survey

Adults (from poor households) withan acute condition in two-week recallperiod who did not take allmedicines because they cannotafford them (%)

66.9 2003 World Health Survey

Adults with chronic conditions takingall medicines prescribed by anauthorized prescriber (%)

83.8 2003 World Health Survey

Adults (from poor households) withchronic conditions not taking allmedicines because they cannotafford them (%)

37.5 2003 World Health Survey

Adults (from poor households) withchronic conditions who usually takeall medicines prescribed by anauthorized prescriber (%)

70.5 2003 World Health Survey

Children (from poor households) withan acute condition in two-week recallperiod who took all medicinesprescribed by an authorizedprescriber (%)

85.5 2003 World Health Survey

Supplementary Questions

Adults with acute conditions nottaking all medicines because themedicines were not available (%)

25.6 2003 World Health Survey

Adults with chronic conditions nottaking all medicines because theycannot afford them (%)

47.5 2003 World Health Survey

Adults with chronic conditions nottaking all medicines because themedicines were not available (%)

17.1 2003 World Health Survey

Children with acute conditions takingall medicines prescribed by an

90.0 2003 World Health Survey

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authorized prescriber (%)

Children with acute conditions nottaking all medicines because theycannot afford them (%)

60.4 2003 World Health Survey

Children with acute conditions nottaking all medicines because the

medicines were not available (%)

23.8 2003 World Health Survey

Children (from poor households) withacute conditions not taking allmedicines because they cannotafford them (%)

71.9 2003 World Health Survey