We are open and ready for international Audit
7th Pakistan Pharma Summit Proceedings
ISLAMABAD: Despite the numerous problems and challenges the pharma industry as well as Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan is facing, our exports are increasing. Today we are ready and open for international audit. These views were expressed by Dr. Asim Rauf Chief Executive Officer of DRAP while speaking at the 7th Pakistan Pharma Summit organized by PPMA held here recently.
Another view of the panelists taking part in the panel discussion during the PHARMA Summit 2024 organized by PPMA.
Speaking about the regulatory affairs, Dr. Asim Rauf said that we are trying to get everything digitalized. Transformation is a continuous process. World is changing and digitalization is an important part. Our commitment shows that we are on the right path. We need to move forward and we need to increase our share in drugs exports. Drug manufacturers and DRAP both are going for transformation. Diagnostic kits can be marketed to the Middle East market. These are the sources that we should strive to get. He was of the view that more and more companies should come forward. We have been able to digitalize more than 9% of our operations for transparency. DRAP is also collaborating and expanding its services. We should get some help from the corporate world to move forward, he stated.
Dr. Semih Kumluk an invited speaker at the Pharma Summit discussed “How AI is Reshaping the Pharmaceutical Landscape”. Apple, he said, will soon launch Health Insurance. DATA is new power but without action it is useless. He also highlighted the importance of Data driven decision making. He then discussed in detail the Big Data, use of AI and the possible actions. Drug discovery, he opined, takes about ten years. Many AI companies are globally active in drug discovery. Eight hundred companies are working in this field and their main focus remains on drug discovery. These companies are operating in Canada, UK, US, Europe, Saudi Arabia, Asia, Middle East and Australia.
Dr. Mehmood Khan, Mr. Haroon Qassim, Osman Khalid Waheed and other chief executives of pharma companies photographed with Dr. Malik Mukhtar Ahmad Bharath Coordinator to Prime Minister on Health at the PHARMA Summit organized by PPMA at Islamabad on September 25th 2024.
There are millions of drugs on the market with unknown potential waiting. Top ten companies are in partnership working in the field of AI. These include Roche, Johnson & Johnson, Novartis, Merck, Sanofi, Astra Zanesa, GSK, Abbott and Brystol Myers. AI companies are active across the drug life cycle, Chemistry to Biology and AI. He also briefly referred to Microsoft Cloud for healthcare. Continuing Dr. Semih said that with enhancing capabilities, better experience, and better insights leads to better care and this is already happening. AI companies, he said, are active across the drug life cycle. Use of AI give doctors a forty-eight-hour head start on life threatening illnesses. Various companies are helping Google. He then highlighted the importance of Pharma.AI biology and pointed out that collaboration of Asian companies with Big Pharma can be rewarding. Humans, Dr. Semih further stated, are not replaced from all AI processes. His advice to the pharma executives was do not switch career but add Artificial Intelligence and Invest in technology. AI, he once again reiterated, will contribute 15.7 Trillion dollars to world economy in 2030 more than China and India put together.
Mr. Dennis Hall Vice President for Advanced Manufacturing Technologies from USP spoke on Innovations in pharmaceutical Manufacturing-Exploring cutting edge application. USP, he clarified, is a not for profit NGO. We work along with FDA and other regulators. Our objective is to set standards for supplies and quality of medicines. We do Advocacy to be Global instructor leader advocating supply of quality drugs. We work for capacity building as leading provider of services that advance the supply of quality drugs to improve health and wellbeing of people and patients. We are working responding to today’s public health care challenges through coordinated standards Advocacy and capacity building. You do get an opportunity to reduce cost, understand the process you are using besides regulatory process. We are helping many countries both in research and manufacturing on how to approach going to US market. Artificial Intelligence, he opined, does not replace understanding. Pakistani Pharma industry should look for technology and make more exports. Material cost in United States and India is same but you can reduce the cost through different processes. He concluded his presentation by stating that by opening the door to FDA, you can get excellent advice but before that use internal systems to improve.
CEO Panel Discussion
A panel discussion in which a number of Chief Executive Officers from various pharma companies participated was also part of the programme. This panel discussion was moderated by Georgia Tolley Presenter at Dubai Eye. Important issues which were discussed during the panel discussion included Leadership in uncertain times, Driving innovation, Government and Industry collaboration, Sustainability and Market Needs.
Participating in the discussion Mr. Tauqeer ul Haq Managing Director SANTE said that India and Bangladesh both export drugs worth twenty eight billion which is much more than us. It is difficult to establish brands outside Pakistan, selecting markets and getting registration of drugs overseas. We are facing competition from India and Bangladesh. As per State Bank of Pakistan, we can retain just 15% of revenue that we generate. We need funds for marketing and establishing our brands. This is the major issue we are facing. We should be allowed to retain 35% of the revenue. We need to identify new areas which can bring revenue. He commended DRAP which, he opined, was making things easy for the pharma industry. We do not have the faculty needed in government and DRAP. Pharma industry should be part of facilitation center. Government should give incentives, concession in sales tax and duties so that we can upgrade our manufacturing plants.
Mr. Hamid Zaka called for establishing strong foothold in markets. Speaking about the registration policies and registration of drugs, he said, we cannot break some deadlocks. For pharmaceutical market, more regulated plants are needed and time is the key. Pakistan is not part of PICS. Hence, we have to apply for inspection from every country. He also referred to the functioning of CROs, Digital aspects, better plant protection while Pricing was not a sustainable strategy, he added.
Mahwish Khan Vice Chairman PPMA and MD Ophth Pharma stated that without government support we cannot do anything. We must know what India and Bangladesh are doing.
Mr. Faisal Khokhar from Remington said that we do not have anything to differentiate us. Indian pharma plants are far ahead of us. We must do studies and identify the gaps. We have to struggle every day. We need to get some consultants and PPMA should also develop some expertize. Mr. Aamir Altaf Qureshi from Hilton was also part of the panel discussion.
Pinar Kivilcim Erguin Global Client Officer, Emerging Markets, Ipsos Healthcare Turkey and UAE spoke about “Market research for Pharma growth”. She was of the view that Empower members, Pricing Strengthening policy shaping and fostering collaboration are future developments and access trends. Market access is a process through which eligible patients gain rapid access when affected to maintain access to actual techniques. Market challenges plan needs action to find solution. There are some challenges that affect pharma companies and drive demand for solutions. Market access can provide vast array of solutions. Retain your talent, improve their use then train them. Health insurance system through NH’s coverage offers better access to healthcare systems in many countries.
