1. Introduction
The Drugs Control and
Research Division was originally set up as Drug Research
Institute in 1968 and was housed temporarily in the first floor
of the block originally to serve the Public Health Division.
This was made as an interim arrangement since Drugs Control and
Research Division did not have any building of its own.
This Division is engaged in
the testing of Drugs and Medicines as well as research on
indigenous system of medicines since 1969 and been given the
task to perform the appellate function in 1977 under the Drugs
Act of 1976. In 1979 the President of Pakistan declared this
Division as the "Center of Excellence" in view of its great
contribution in the drug Quality Control set-up in the country.
Pakistan Narcotic Control
Board's Narcotic Testing Laboratory (Presently ANF) has also
been added to this Division in 1980 considering the serious
problem, the Narcotics and Psychotropic drugs are posing to the
Health Authorities in Pakistan.
The Division is playing an
important role in the Drugs delivery system in the country and
in view of the W.H.O. emphasis and growing use of Traditional
Medicines; the Division was renamed as Drug Control &
Traditional Medicines Division. The Division is well equipped
with the latest instruments provided with the grant-in-aid by
Govt. of Japan. These instruments are placed in the newly
constructed building of Drugs Control and Traditional Medicines
Division, which was inaugurated in July, 1991.
The Drugs Control and
Traditional Medicines Division is the finest laboratory in the
country in respect of sophisticated instrument and technology
and is one of the best among Asian Countries.
2.
Objectives
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Research in traditional medicine and plants
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Evaluation of quality of drugs purchase by various
Federal Government Hospitals. |
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Evaluation of quality of products received by various
laboratories of NIH, Islamabad. |
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Provision of training facilities in quality control
and good manufacturing in the Pharmaceutical industries.
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Provision of facilities of laboratory testing to PNCB.
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Undertake research and isolation of various
ingredients and by-products of cigarettes and smoking.
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3. Mission
To become leading institution in the field of quality control of
pharmaceutical and research on Traditional system of medicines.
4. Setup of
Division/Section
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Chemical Section
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Microbiology Section
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Pharmaceutical Section
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Chemical Research and Therapeutic Drug Monitoring
Section |
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Narcotics Section
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Botany Section
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Pharmacology Section
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Unani and Homoeopathic Section
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5. Functions
The main functions carried
out by the Division are:
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Quality Control of
Drugs for “Appellate Testing” under Section 22, Sub-Section 5 of
the Drug Act, 1976.
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Routine Testing of
drugs for Quality Control on random basis.
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Testing of drugs
referred by Registration and Licensing Board, Ministry of
Health. |
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Screening of drugs
for Steroids in Homeopathic and Unani Medicines.
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Qualitative and
Quantitative Analysis of Psychoactive and Narcotic Drugs like Phenobarbitone,
Methaqualone, Heroin, Opium and Cannabinoids etc.
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Research in
Quality Control Methodology, development of detailed
specifications for Pharmaceutical
Products and basic tests for
routine laboratory work. |
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Training in
Pharmaceutical Analysis. |
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Provides
facilities in respect of laboratory support and technical
guidance to M.Sc., M.Phil and Ph.D
students and research
scientists of various institutions. |
6. Programs and Projects
WHO's Project:
In October 2000
WHO’s project on Traditional Medicines has been started with the
following main objectives, major achievements and future plans:
Objectives
of the Project
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To develop
a National Policy for Traditional Medicines according to the
National Health Policy and National Drug Policy.
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To
establish appropriate standards for traditional medicines.
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To work
on National Unani Pharmacopoeias. |
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To
encourage and strengthen research into evidence-based practice
of traditional medicines. |
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To
foster respect for the cultural integrity of traditional
medicines. |
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To
train manufacturers for Good Manufacturing Practices and Quality
Assurance guideline. |
Achievements
of the Project:
The project
is in progress with the following major achievements:
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The
recommendations for the National Traditional Medicines Policy
and Regulation has been prepared by the panel of three
consultants and consensus amongst the stakeholders of
Traditional Medicines Sector of all the provinces has been
developed and submitted to Ministry of Health for its formal
approval. |
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The Draft
Bill to regulate the manufacture, storage, import and export of
Traditional Medicines has been prepared in consultation with the
stakeholders of the Traditional Medicines Sector, and has been
formally approved by the Federal Cabinet. |
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The
existing Act of the Unani, Ayurvedic and Homoeopathic system of
medicines is amended to recognize the degrees Course.
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The GMP
guidelines for the manufacturers of Traditional Medicines has
been developed. |
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The
Monographs of Single Unani Medicinal plants and list of
Essential Traditional Medicines has been published.
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The work
on the development of standards and specifications of single
medicinal plants is in progress. |
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Around
200 persons from Traditional Medicines Sector has been educated
about the implications of WTO/TRIPS. |
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The
guidelines for the field collection of medicinal plants has been
developed. |
Special
Assignments:
Organized an International workshop entitled “Health Challenges
of 21st Century and Traditional Medicines in SAARC
Region” and “Herbal Products Exhibition” from 4-6 November, 2002
at Best Western Hotel, Islamabad. More than 150 persons from
Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Maldives and
Bhutan participated in the workshop. Around 20 herbal medicines
manufacturing companies participated in the Herbal Products
Exhibition.
7. Collaboration with other
Institutions/Organizations
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College of Medicines and Medical Sciences, Manama,
Bahrain |
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Quaid-e Azam University, Karachi
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Hamdard University. Karachi
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Hazara University, Hazara
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Kohat University, Kohat
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Arid University, Rawalpindi
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8. Future Plan
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Establishment of Bioavailability and
Bioequivalence center. |
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Establishment of Herbal Garden.
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Post Marketing surveillance for the determination
of quality of drugs. |
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Establishment of Toxicology Laboratory.
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Developments of standards and specifications for
the Unani medicines. |
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