DRAP issued Guidelines for Public Health Programs (PHPs) to promote Pharmacovigilance activities and enhancing collaboration with National Pharmacovigilance Centre, DRAP.
Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) aims at providing a holistic system of Pharmacovigilance in the country. Public Health Programs are key stakeholders involved in the reporting, assessment and risk communication of various un-wanted effects arising after the use of drugs, vaccines and other therapeutic goods. Reporting of Adverse Events associated with the use of therapeutic goods exclusively being used by PHPs is essential to a pharmacovigilance system.
The key objectives of pharmacovigilance activities in public health programs are:-
- To improve public health and safety in relation to the use of therapeutic goods in PHPs;
- To detect problems related to the use of therapeutic goods and associated risk communication in a timely manner
- To encourage the safe, rational and more effective use of therapeutic goods.
This guideline will assist the Public Health Programs (PHPs) for enhancement of pharmacovigilance activities, and provide a guidance on communication channels among PHPs and Pharmacovigilance Centres for collaborative working to synergize activities within the National Pharmacovigilance system of Pakistan.
DRAP published the draft of this guidelines on its website on 23rd April, 2022 inviting the comments of stakeholders on the draft. After through consultation and careful consideration, fist edition of the guidelines on the pharmacovigilance activities in the public health programs are finalized. Nevertheless, anyone can still furnish his/her comments on the guidelines using our comments submissions methods for consideration in the future editions of the document.
Please click to view the document, GUIDELINES ON PHARMACOVIGILANCE FOR PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAMMES
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Recall Alert: PRODUCTS DECLARED SUBSTANDARD BY PROVINCIAL DRUG TESTING LABORATORIES
Recall Alert
| DRAP Alert No | No I/S/05-25-44 |
| Action Date | 29th May, 2025. |
| Target Audience | – National Regulatory Field Force. – Pharmacists and Chemists in Distribution, Pharmacies and Medical Stores – Healthcare Professionals – Physicians, Pharmacists, and Nurses at hospitals and clinics – General Public |
| Problem / Issue | Directorate of Drug Control (DDC) Punjab has informed Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan that the samples of below mentioned products have been reported as ‘Substandard’. |
Therapeutic Goods (s) Affected: –
| Product Names | Composition | Batch Details | Manufactured by | Test Results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inflamac Injection Reg. No. 036110 | Each 3ml contains: Diclofenac sodium…..75mg | 25L-001 | M/s. Ipram International, Plot No. 26, S.S-3, National Industrial Zone, Rawat, Islamabad. | ‘Substandard’ on the basis of Visible particulates in injection. |
| ZOLREST INFUSION 300mL Reg. No. 055916 | Each 300ml vial contains: Linezolid …….600mg | ZL250020 | M/s Bosch Pharmaceuticals (Pvt.) Ltd, 209, Sector 23, Korangi Industrial Area, Karachi. | ‘Substandard’ on the basis of Bacterial Endotoxin Test. |
| LAKSOL-NS INFUSION 100mL Reg. No. 110827 | Each 100ml contains: Sodium chloride…0.9g | 3021489 | M/s Lakhani Pharma (Pvt) Ltd., Sheikh Zayed Road, Rahim Yar Khan, Pakistan. | ‘Substandard’ on the basis of Bacterial Endotoxin Test. |
| QAD-FEN 90ml Syrup Reg. No. 121509 | Each 5ml suspension contains: Ibuprofen….100mg | LS0003 | M/s Qadir Pharmaceuticals, Fateh Garh Sahuwala Road, Sialkot. | ‘Substandard’ with regards to presence of impurity (Ethylene glycol), above the permissible limit. |
| BYTEC Tablet Reg. No. 036183 | Each film coated tablet contains: Cetirizine dihydrochloride ..…..10mg | E089 | M/s. Batala Pharmaceuticals, 23/B, Small Industrial Estate # 2, Gujranwala. | ‘Substandard’ with regards to Impurities test. |
| Risk Statement: | The use of substandard products can result in therapy failure, increasing the risk of complications, particularly in vulnerable groups such as immunocompromised individuals, as well as pediatric and geriatric population. |
| Action Initiated | – The regulatory field force of DRAP and Provincial Drug Control departments has been directed to immediately conduct market surveys for detection and removal of these products from the market. – All pharmacists and chemists working at distributors and pharmacies should immediately check their stocks and stop supplying these products. The remaining stocks should be quarantined, and the information of their supplier should be immediately provided to their area drug inspector to ensure the removal of falsified product. –Distributors and pharmacies are advised to be vigilant and report any suspected batch of the product(s) in the supply chain to the DRAP using the online form, or by Email at gsms∂dra.gov.pk. –Regulatory field force of all federating units (DRAP, Provincial Health Departments, and States) has also increased the surveillance in the market to ensure the effective recall of defective product(s). |
| Advice for Healthcare Professionals | DRAP requests to enhance vigilance within the supply chains of institutions/pharmacies/healthcare facilities likely to be affected by this defective batch of the product. -Adverse reactions or quality problems experienced with this product may be reported to the National Pharmacovigilance Centre(NPC), DRAP using the Adverse Event Reporting Form or online through this link. -Please click here for further information on problem reporting to DRAP. |
| Advice for Consumers | -Consumers should stop using these product bearing the affected batch number(s). They shall contact their physician or healthcare provider(s) if they have experienced any problem that may be related to using this product. -All therapeutic products must be obtained from authorized licensed pharmacies /outlets. Their authenticity and condition should be carefully checked. If you have any doubts, please seek advice from your pharmacist. |
Minutes of the 347th Meeting of the Registration Board Held on 28th – 30th APRIL, 2025
The Drug Registration Board convened its 347th meeting on 28th – 30th APRIL, 2025 in the Committee Room of the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan, Prime Minister’s National Health Complex, Park Road, Islamabad. The minutes of the meeting are hereby circulated for the information of all stakeholders.
Pharmacovigilance Newsletter
Recall Alert: RECALL OF XARELTO 15MG TABLET, BATCH NO. BXK4E11, DUE TO A LABELING ERROR ON SECONDARY PACKAGING
Recall Alert
| DRAP Alert No | No I/S/05-25-43 |
| Action Date | 20th May, 2025. |
| Target Audience | – National Regulatory Field Force. – Healthcare Professionals – Physicians, Pharmacists, and Nurses at hospitals and clinics – General Public |
| Problem / Issue | The firm M/s Bayer Pakistan (Pvt.) Ltd., Karachi has requested for correction of a typographical error identified on the secondary packaging of Xarelto 15 mg Tablets, Batch Number BXK4E11. The error pertains to the incorrect indication of product strength on the outer label, which may lead to potential dosing errors. The details of the product are as under: |
Therapeutic Goods (s) Affected: –
| Product Names | Composition | Batch Details | Manufactured by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xarelto 15mg Tablet Reg. No. 072549 | Each film coated tablet contains: Rivaroxaban…15mg | BXK4E11 | M/s Bayer Pakistan Private Limited., Plot No. 23, Sector No.22, Korangi Industrial Area, Karachi. |
| Risk Statement: | Incorrect labeling can cause a patient to receive the wrong dosage of a medication. This may result in underdosing, where the medication is not effective, or overdosing, which can lead to harmful side effects or toxicity. |
| Action Initiated | – The regulatory field force of DRAP and Provincial Drug Control departments has been directed to immediately conduct market surveys for detection and removal of the mentioned batch of product from the market. – All pharmacists and chemists working at distributors and pharmacies should immediately check their stocks and stop supplying the mentioned batch. The remaining stocks should be quarantined, and the information of their supplier should be immediately provided to their area drug inspector to ensure the removal of falsified product. –Distributors and pharmacies are advised to be vigilant and report any suspected batch of the product(s) in the supply chain to the DRAP using the online form, or by Email at gsms∂dra.gov.pk. |
| Advice for Healthcare Professionals | DRAP requests to enhance vigilance within the supply chains of institutions/pharmacies/healthcare facilities likely to be affected by this defective batch of the product. -Adverse reactions or quality problems experienced with this product may be reported to the National Pharmacovigilance Centre(NPC), DRAP using the Adverse Event Reporting Form or online through this link. -Please click here for further information on problem reporting to DRAP. |
| Advice for Consumers | -Consumers should stop using the product bearing the affected batch number(s). They shall contact their physician or healthcare provider(s) if they have experienced any problem that may be related to using this product. -All therapeutic products must be obtained from authorized licensed pharmacies /outlets. Their authenticity and condition should be carefully checked. If you have any doubts, please seek advice from your pharmacist. |
Rapid Alert: CRACKDOWN AGAINST FALSIFIED/SPURIOUS DRUGS
Rapid Alert
| DRAP Alert No | No I/S/05-25-42 |
| Action Date | 19th May, 2025 |
| Target Audience | 1. Regulatory Field Force of DRAP and Provincial Drug Control departments. 2. Healthcare Professionals 3. Pharmacies and medical stores |
| Problem Statement | Directorate of Drug Control Punjab (DDCP) has informed Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan that the sample of below mentioned product has been declared ‘Spurious’. The details of the report are as under: |
The product identification details are as under: –
Therapeutic Good Affected:-
| Product | Batch No | Manufacturer Name (as per label) | Remarks |
| Cefim Capsule 400mg Each capsule contains: Cefixime as trihydrate USP…400mg | 150994 | M/s Hilton Pharma (Pvt.) Ltd., Plot No. 13-14, Sector 15, Korangi Industrial Area, Karachi. | ‘Spurious’ as per Section 3(z-b) (i)and (ii)of the Drugs Act, 1976. |
| Acefyl Cough Syrup 125mL Each 5ml contains: Acefylline Piperazine……45mg Diphenhydramine HCL…….8mg | ACG753 | M/s Nabiqasim Industries (Pvt.) Ltd.,., 17/24, Korangi Industrial Area, Karachi. | ‘Spurious’ as per Section 3(z-b) (i)and (ii)of the Drugs Act, 1976. |
| DROPHA-10 Tablet Each film coated tablet contains: Dydrogesterone…..10mg | DRP-0012 | M/s Himax Pharmaceutical., Plot No. 445, Korangi Industrial Area, Karachi. | ‘Spurious’ as per Section 3(z-b) (i)of the Drugs Act, 1976. |
| Dydrocare 10mg Tablet Each film coated tablet contains: Dydrogesterone…..10mg | DC-0003-Y | M/s Carryfor Pharmaceuticals (Pvt.) Ltd., Plot No. E-81, North Western Industrial Zone, Port Qasim, Karachi. | ‘Spurious’ as per Section 3(z-b) (i)of the Drugs Act, 1976. |
| Dydroplax 10mg Tablet Each film coated tablet contains: Dydrogesterone…..10mg | DDP-0491-X | M/s Carryfor Pharmaceuticals (Pvt.) Ltd., Plot No. E-81, North Western Industrial Zone, Port Qasim, Karachi. | ‘Spurious’ as per Section 3(z-b) (i)of the Drugs Act, 1976. |
| Risk Statement | Falsified products having no active ingredient or identification of manufacturer pose a great risk to the health of patient and can cause adverse drug reactions or may lead to therapy failure that can result in fatal consequences. |
| Action Initiated | The Regulatory Field Force has been directed to conduct surveillance activities to confiscate the abovementioned Un-Registered/falsified product. All Pharmacists, chemists, and other healthcare professionals working at distributions, pharmacies, healthcare facilities, and other aspects of the supply chain system should immediately check the stock, and information related to the suppliers of such products should be provided to the Regulatory field force (DRAP, Provincial Drug Control Departments) to ensure the removal of these product from the circulation. |
| Advice for Healthcare Professionals | DRAP requests healthcare professionals to have increased vigilance within the supply chains of institutions/pharmacies/healthcare facilities likely to be affected by above mentioned product. Any adverse events or quality problems experienced with the use of these products should be reported to National or Provincial pharmacovigilance centers using Adverse Event Reporting Form or online through this link. Further information on reporting problems to DRAP is available on this link. |
| Advice for Consumers | Consumers should not use these products and should contact their physician or healthcare provider(s) if they have experienced any problem related to taking or using the above mentioned products and should report the incident to the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan / National Pharmacovigilance Centre. All therapeutic goods must be obtained from licensed pharmacies and other authorized/licensed retail outlets. The authenticity and condition of products should be carefully checked. Seek advice from your pharmacists or other healthcare professionals in case of any doubt. |
Stakeholders are invited to comment on Draft Guidelines on Emergency Use Authorization by 06th June, 2025
Draft Guidelines on Emergency Use Authorization
The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) has developed a draft guideline outlining the regulatory framework for granting Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) of medicinal products during a declared Public Health Emergency (PHE). This guideline aims to facilitate timely access to critical medicines, vaccines, or diagnostics when no approved alternatives are available, ensuring public health protection while maintaining rigorous safety and efficacy standards.
Key Highlights of the EUA Guideline
- Legal Basis: EUA is granted under the Drugs Act, 1976 and Drug (Licensing, Registering & Advertising) Rules, 1976, empowering DRAP to authorize unregistered products during emergencies.
- Risk-Benefit Assessment: Authorization considers whether the potential benefits outweigh risks in diagnosing, treating, or preventing life-threatening conditions.
- Scope: Applies to emergencies involving threats to public health, safety, or national security (e.g., pandemics, bioterrorism).
- Alignment with Existing Guidelines: Should be read alongside DRAP’s Guidance Documents for Registration of Pharmaceutical & Biological Products.
Call for Stakeholder Input
DRAP invites healthcare professionals, pharmaceutical manufacturers, researchers, policymakers, and the public to review the draft guideline and provide constructive feedback. Your expertise will ensure the framework is robust, transparent, and aligned with international best practices.
How to Submit Comments
- Download the Draft Guideline: https://www.dra.gov.pk/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/DRAP-EUA-Guideline-2025.docx
- Submit Feedback: Email comments to muneeb.cheema∂drap.gov.pk by 06th June, 2025.
Deadline for Feedback: 06th June, 2025