DRAP bars doctors from prescribing alternative medicines, health products

The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan has barred doctors from prescribing alternative medicines and health products.

According to the new health advisory issued to registered medical practitioners, the DRAP has barred the doctors to prescribe herbal medicines, food supplements or cosmetics to the patients.

A directive released on Thursday read: “Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan regulates the Health & OTC products under provisions of the Alternative Medicines & Health Products (Enlistment) Rules, 2014 notified vide S.R.0.412 (1)/2014 dated 27 May 2014. The food supplements and nutritional products are considered as complementary products and unlike Allopathic Medicines, they are not categorized as Essential Medicines which satisfy the priority health care needs of the population."

The authority in its directive noted that the internationally, the food supplements, nutritional and Nutraceutical products are being marketed as Over the Counter (OTC) or non-prescription products.

“However, it has been observed that the physicians arc regularly prescribing these products. Therefore, the consumer is under the compelling condition to purchase such products being prescribed by the registered medical practitioners and does not have any choice on his/her own.”

The DRAP said keeping in view these facts it, therefore, requested to take necessary steps to stop such practices in line with the international best practices and WHO's Guido to Good Prescribing.