Under the guidance of Caretaker Federal Minister for Health Dr Nadeem Jan, substantial strides have been taken to guarantee the availability of life-saving medications in Pakistan. The Ministry of Health’s spokesperson revealed that Dr. Nadeem Jan issued directives for the emergency registration of crucial medicines to enhance their supply.
In response to the Minister’s instructions, the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) has prioritized and approved the registration of various medicines. This initiative aims to facilitate the market supply of essential drugs for diabetes and anticancer treatments.
DRAP has given the green light for the registration of anesthesia injections and anti-cancer drugs, both for import and local manufacturing. Additionally, the registration of influenza vaccines, heparin, enoxaparin injections, and a new anti-diabetic drug, Semaglutide injection, has been approved.
Dr. Nadeem Jan emphasized that these registrations will significantly improve the availability of anti-cancer, diabetes, and life-saving medications. The Minister assured that an uninterrupted supply of life-saving medicines will be guaranteed, and the government is taking comprehensive measures to ensure their availability.
Furthermore, he mentioned the establishment of a pharma park to promote local production of medicines and ongoing efforts to enhance the capacity of the pharmaceutical industry in the country.
Malala Yousafzai Condemns Taliban’s Treatment of Women as ‘Gender Apartheid’ in Nelson Mandela Lecture
In another development, Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai, speaking at the 21st Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture in South Africa, drew parallels between the restrictions imposed by the Taliban on women in Afghanistan and the treatment of Black people under apartheid.
Malala, who survived a gunshot to the head at 15 for advocating girls’ education in Pakistan, emphasized that the Taliban’s actions constitute “gender apartheid” and effectively make girlhood illegal by restricting education and freedom for Afghan girls.
In her lecture in Johannesburg, Yousafzai urged the international community not to normalize relations with the Taliban, which returned to power in Afghanistan in 2021. She highlighted the Taliban’s curtailment of women’s rights, such as preventing Afghan female staff from working at aid agencies, closing beauty salons, and restricting women’s travel without a male guardian.
