The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) on Monday launched a crackdown against medicine distributors amid the rising cases of vision loss due to the use of substandard injections in Punjab, says in media reports.  Initially, it was reported that the eyesight of over 40 diabetes patients was affected in Punjab after which the provincial caretaker government imposed a two-week ban on Avastin’s sales and usage for ophthalmology-related treatments. But the number has now increased by over 70. After the cases were reported, DRAP banned hospitals, pharmacies, and patients across the country from using the injections.  DRAP officials said that no hospital, laboratory, or pharmacy in Pakistan has a licence to repack the injection. They revealed that both unregistered and registered injections are available in the market. The officials further advised the people and hospitals to not use the imported injections before quality check results were obtained.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)