Islamabad, April 23, 2025: Transparency International (TI) Pakistan has issued an urgent appeal to Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, highlighting serious allegations concerning the widespread sale of substandard, spurious, and unregistered medicines and medical devices in the province due to inadequate regulatory enforcement.
In a letter dated April 22, 2025, TI Pakistan relayed a detailed complaint outlining multiple violations that pose significant risks to public and animal health.
According to the letter, a large number of nutraceuticals and alternative medicines are being sold in Punjab without proper formulation standards, validated analytical methods, or compliance with labeling regulations. One particularly disturbing incident cited was the alleged use of expired cardiac stents at the Punjab Institute of Cardiology, raising concerns about the regulation and safety of medical devices in the province.
The complaint further reveals that drug inspectors, despite having a legal mandate under the Drug Act, 1976 to regulate alternative medicine manufacturing units, have reportedly failed to conduct proper inspections and ensure compliance.
Equally alarming is the continued availability of unregistered veterinary medicines—both imported and locally produced—which contravenes national drug laws and poses a serious threat to livestock health.
TI Pakistan noted that while Punjab employs the highest number of drug inspectors in the country (156), the apparent lack of effective enforcement constitutes a violation of Section 4 of the Punjab Drugs (Amendment) Act, 2017, and demands immediate government intervention.
In its assessment, TI Pakistan found the allegations to be credible and proposed the following corrective measures:
- Immediate testing of all drug categories, including human pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, alternative medicines, and veterinary drugs, to assess quality and compliance.
- Identification and removal of expired, unregistered, or deregistered medical devices from the market, with legal action taken against those responsible.
- Thorough inspections of all nutraceutical and alternative medicine manufacturers to ensure they maintain operational laboratories and qualified quality control personnel. Entities failing to meet Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards should face appropriate penalties.
TI Pakistan reiterated its commitment as a non-partisan watchdog acting under Article 19-A of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to information. The organization called on Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz to initiate swift and decisive action to safeguard public health and ensure the provision of safe, effective, and regulated medicines and medical devices across Punjab.
