Skip to main content

Power outages at Drap lab compromising vaccines, medicines

ISLAMABAD: The National Control Laboratory for Biologics (NCLB), a research facility run by the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (Drap), does not have a generator to skirt power outages, and the temperature fluctuation is compromising the quality of vaccines and medicine stored in the lab. This was revealed during a visit of the Senate Committee on National Health Services to the lab based in Chak Shehzad where it was briefed by the NCLB and Drap officials on various aspects, including the budget for upgrading health labs. During the visit of the Senate panel headed by Humayun Mohmand, the facility did not have any power, prompting the senators to inquire about the availability of an alternative power source. Mr Mohmand termed it a serious matter and said the “vaccines were being turned into poison” due to the frequent fluctuations in temperature. The committee, chaired by Senator Humayun Mohmand, raised serious concerns about the absence of a generator at the facility amid power outages which were compromising the quality of medicine and vaccines due to temperature fluctuations. Senate panel directs health ministry to procure generator within one week The Drap head apprised the committee that 400 KVA wiring was required for the installation of a power generator. The committee inquired about the composition and working of the policy board and remarked that such negligence was a criminal offence. It directed the health ministry to immediately convene a meeting with the policy board to make a decision regarding power outages and subsequent procurement of a generator within seven days. It sought a report on a priority basis. Senator Asad Ali Khan Junejo recommended that the power ministry should be asked to stop load shedding in the area for the sake of the lab. He also sought the record of the “discarded vaccines which were expired due to changes in the temperature”. Drap, however, said that the vaccines stored in the lab were only “testing vaccines” not meant for patients. NCLB officials informed the Senate panel that due to various government restrictions, the lab had difficulties obtaining funds to improve its facilities and operations. Drap CEO Asim Rauf said that funds to the tune of Rs60 million remained unutilised for a year due to certain legal complications. The special secretary of the health ministry said that the changes have been made in the mechanism of utilisation of funds and a summary was awaited for its approval. The Senate committee members also visited the Federal General Hospital and inspected various wards. The committee chairman said the 200-bed hospital spread over an area of 22 kanals was inoperable due to the unavailability of surgeons and specialists. It was observed that the staff recruited for the hospital was transferred on deputation to Polyclinic and Pims. The committee directed the ministry not to make more deputations. The committee, while making visits to different wards, observed there was no ventilation system in the hospital, leading to the accumulation of germs. It was also observed that the air conditioners were also not installed at the hospital, particularly affecting the wounded patients. Published in Dawn, June 15th, 2023
http://dlvr.it/Sqj1wd

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

3 drug pushers, bootlegger held

Islamabad :Islamabad Industrial Area Police have arrested three drug pushers and a bootlegger besides recovery of narcotics and 120 liter liquor from them, a police spokesman said.According to details, a police team of Industrial Area police station arrested three drug pushers namely Kamran, Irfan and Shamoon Masih and recovered 320 gram heroin and 210 gram hashish from them,.Another police team arrested a bootlegger namely Ansar Javed and recovered 120 liter wine, bottles, stickers and brewing equipment from him. Cases have been registered against these nabbed persons and further investigation is underway from them.SP (Industrial Area) Zubair Ahmad Shaikh has said that Industrial Area zone police is doing its job efficiently and crackdown against criminals would be continued.Despite the sit in, he said Islamabad Police has been performing its duty quite efficiently and has successfully managed to maintain the daily life in the Capital.In this regard, Senior Police officers including S...
Post a Comment
Read more

‘Aziz Bhatti Shaheed My Brother, My Hero’

Real heroes are heroes of every one. They are not controversial. Nations love them more than anything. Major Aziz Bhatti Shaheed is among those real-time heroes of 1965 War, who not only stood firm to face the enemy aggression but also repulsed it with his unprecedented courage. He gave his life while defending the frontiers of motherland but never let the enemy succeed in its nefarious designs. The proud nation awarded him with ‘Nishan-i-Haider’, the biggest gallantry award of the country. Now that more than 54 years have passed, since he embraced Shahadat, he continues to live in the hearts of each and every Pakistani. Aziz Bhatti is remembered with love and affection. Nation observes his Yaum-e-Shahadat on 12th of September in a befitting manner.This year was significant in a sense that his younger brother Sardar Ahmed Bhatti (95 years old now) presented this nation a book named ‘Aziz Bhatti Shaheed My Brother My Hero’. This book is classic and unique in a way that it unearths many ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Pragmatic steps taken to implement Axle Load Control regime on NH&MP

Islamabad: Ministry of Communications has taken pragmatic steps to implement the Axle Load Control regime on Motorways & National Highways in the country. Sole objective of this move is to control travelling of overloaded vehicles which lead to fatal accidents besides damaging the national asset of road network of billions of rupees.Prior to implementation of axle load control regime, a technical committee was formed, consisting of officers from Ministry of Communications and National Highway Authority which remained in constant contacts with transport community, Members of the Chambers of Commerce and stakeholders hailing from all the provinces. This technical committee visited their offices and held detailed discussions in series of meetings and took them into confidence to facilitate implementation of Axle Load Control regime. The stakeholders assured of their full cooperation and subsequently, implementation of Axle Load Control was realized which is in progress.It is worth to ...
Post a Comment
Read more