The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) has cancelled the licences of two drug manufacturing companies that manufacture homeo, herbal, and nutraceutical dugs, for selling substandard medicines, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Monday. 

Conwell Labs and Wilkins Pharma had their manufacturer and supply licences revoked after they were found to be involved in manufacturing of substandard drugs.

DRAP also directed the companies to immediately stop production and supply and asked them to renounce their pharmaceutical licences. Moreover, DRAP had also sent show-cause notices to the companies before revoking their licences.

These pharmaceutical firms were based in small industrial Estate like Abbottabad, and Swat and were not adhering to the standards of good manufacturing practices. Their licences were cancelled in light of Peshawar report. 

According to the DRAP sources, DRAP Enlistment Evaluation Committee had recommended licences revocation. 

Following that, DRAP carried out inspections of companies' production units on secret information, and that companies' licenses were canceled in the interest of public health. 

It merits here to mention that Conwell Laboratories manufactures capsules, tablets, syrups, suspensions, sachets, etc., however, its production unit building was dilapidated. 

Furthermore, the Conwell Laboratories violated Drap's quality and safety rules. 

Similarly, Wilkins Pharma was manufacturing the drug in the absence of technical staff and it also violated the safety ad quality rules of DRAP. 

Reporter: Kifayat Ali Shah