Pakistan Pharma Summit 2024 by PPMA
Deregulation of prices of non-essential drugs will help it
generate funds to improve drug manufacturing facilities
PPMA chief promises to increase Drug Exports to 3 Billion Dollars within next five years provided facilities are provided by drug regulators and concerned ministries
From our correspondent
ISLAMABAD: Concerted efforts of the leadership of Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association(PPMA) for the last many years to keep the communication channels open and constant dialogue with the regulators, other decision makers in various ministries has started bearing fruits. The government has at last recognized the importance of pharma industry and now seems to be receptive to find solution to numerous problems the industry is facing. The recent decision to de-regulate the prices of non-essential drugs is the most welcome step though taken a bit late which will help the pharma industry generate funds to expand, equip and improve drug manufacturing facilities which is essential to make inroads in the highly regulated markets by increasing exports.
Speaking at the recently held Pharma Export Summit & Awards conference (PESA 2024) Malik Mukhtar Ahmad Bharath Coordinator to the Prime Minister on Health has hinted that an independent drug pricing board will be established to help pharma industry to realize its true potential. The recent decision to De-regulate non-essential drug prices for which the pharma industry has been agitating for the last many years has been welcomed by the industry. Chairman of PPMA Mian Khalid Misbah Ur Rehman has promised to increase the drug exports to three billion US dollars in the next five years provided facilities are provided by the regulators and concerned ministries.
Addressing the Summit Malik Muhtar Ahmad Bharath acknowledged the importance of pharma industry which was meeting over 70% demand of country’s drug requirements. We certainly need more investment in the industry and with the deregulation of prices of non-essential drugs, the government expects that the pharma industry will make further investments to meet international standards and go for digitalization to keep pace with developments overseas. DRAP talent is available and an independent drug pricing board will be established to facilitate the industry further. At present we are facing certain challenges. PPMA should help us maintain Internaitonal standards of Good Manufacturing Practices. China has shown good positive response to transfer of technology. Along with pricing, amendments to the Drug Acts 1976 will also be made. After the 18th constitutional amendment health has become a provincial subject but we are trying our best to bring a consensus document through discussions in the Council of Common Interests so that we can move forward. As regards narcotics control of certain drugs, we have written to various ministries and we hope to find some solution. We are determined to facilitate you but also expect that the pharma industry will take off with the introduction of new drugs, he remarked.
Dr. Mehmood Khan Chief Executive Officer of Hevolution Foundation in Saudi Arabia who was the Guest of Honour at the conference in his address remarked that Pakistan produces one of the best talents in the world but our tragedy is that this talent is rarely retained by Pakistan. The new talented generation keeps on leaving the country which needs to be looked into by the government and the planners. He emphasized the importance of collaboration and innovation.
Chairman of PPMA Mian Khalid Misbah Ur Rehman in his address stated that PPMA was founded in 1961. Our main objective is provision of quality drugs at affordable prices and enhance drugs exports. With over two hundred fifty members, today we are meeting almost 90% of the drugs requirements through local production. The national pharma industry has played a vital role in introducing new novel molecules at economical prices. We ensured regular supply of drugs even during COVID19 pandemic. There was no shortage and our drugs were available across the borders which shows the importance of this industry in critical times. The government has also acknowledged and commended robust domestic market which is in the interest of Pakistan. Today the total world pharma market as per statistics of 2023 is worth 1.6 Trillion dollars. At present our drugs exports is over three hundred Million US dollars but our aim is to increase Pakistani drugs exports to three billion US dollars in the next five years. We desperately need more foreign exchange for the country.
The industry has seen 24% growth for which he credited the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan and commended its efforts in deregulation of drug prices of non-essential drugs. He urged the government to expedite the passage of amendments to the Drugs Act which was critical for the growth of the pharmaceutical industry. Although deregulation has resulted in increase of drug prices but at the same time it has also improved the overall availability of medicines overcoming the severe shortage in the market. Domestic manufacturers are faced with the challenge of increasing the quality of APIs. We hope to take the Pakistani pharmaceutical industry to new heights by working together, he remarked.
Dr. Kaiser Waheed Chief Organizer of Pharma Summit 2024 in his address stated that the guest speakers will enlighten us with new knowledge and update our colleagues in the pharma industry of latest developments in the pharma market. The ultimate beneficiary of all this will be the people of Pakistan who will get quality drugs at affordable prices. We need to adopt 4.0 Artificial Intelligence. Even it is not going to be the end but soon we will have super computers and Ex AI which is going to be far different than what we are experiencing today. We have to adopt the latest technology otherwise we will be left far behind since the world is going at a very fast pace. We have to think how we can transform the pharmaceutical industry in Pakistan. He was critical of the current oversight of controlled substances by narcotic officials instead of health officials and made a passionate plea to the authorities to look at this. He highlighted the importance of digital transformation of the pharmaceutical sector to remain competitive particularly against the regional rivals like India and Bangladesh.
Dr. Kaiser Waheed strongly advocated that powers of DRAP should remain intact and these powers should not be shifted to any other department which lack the required medical expertise. DRAP should see to it that its responsibilities are not shifted to other departments which do not understand the intricacies. It is in the national interest that DRAP should continue to retain the mandate which was given to it to regulate the pharma market, he remarked.
Other distinguished speakers in the Pharma Summit included Pinar Kivilcim Global Client Officer at Ipsos Healthcare, Dr. Dennis Hall Vice President for Advanced Manufacturing Technologies from United States, Dr. Asim Rauf CEO DRAP. Federal Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan was the chief guest in one of the sessions while Chairman Senate Syed Yusuf Raza Gillani graced the concluding session with his presence and also presented Awards to a large number of drug manufacturers who are exporting their drugs overseas and earning precious foreign exchange for the country. Earlier on September 24th Dr. Semih Kumluk was the guest speaker in the pre-conference workshop on AI in Pharma Masterclass. Programme also included panel discussion on “Navigating the future of pharma exports, Leadership, Innovations, and strategy.
Overall the Pakistan Pharma Summit 2024 which had the theme of “Digital Pharma Transformation: Enhancing efficiency in uncertain times” proved a great success which attracted a large number of chief executives and senior executives from different sections of the pharma industry including marketing, manufacturing, quality control and officials from the drug regulatory authority. Earlier Mr. Haroon Qassim Co-chairman of the organizing committee welcomed the guests and participants to the workshop and Pharma Summit PESA 2024. Detailed reports of some of the presentations during the conference as well as workshop on Use of Artificial Intelligence in Pharma Industry to follow.
