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Promoting the Quality of Medicines Plus (PQM+)

Pakistan

Staff receive training on PPE testing and standards at a testing lab in Pakistan
     Staff receive training on PPE testing and standards at a testing lab in Pakistan. Photo: PQM+ program

Pakistan’s regulatory system has limited capacity for medicines quality surveillance, which contributes to the proliferation of substandard and falsified medical products in the country. The lack of regulatory enforcement and centers to conduct reliable bioequivalence studies reduces confidence in the efficacy of generic medical products manufactured in Pakistan.

Inconsistent government policies for the pharmaceutical sector have undermined the private sector’s potential role in improving health outcomes. PQM+ focused on advancing medicine quality assurance elements to enhance Global Health Security Agenda initiatives; promoting maternal, newborn, and child health; addressing communicable diseases; and engaging the private sector in achieving better health outcomes and contributing to economic development.


PQM+ also supported the government’s response to COVID-19 through several activities, including facilitating emergency use authorization for vaccines, supporting the local manufacture of personal protective equipment, engaging the private sector to build the capacity of public and private sector diagnostic laboratories to use new COVID-19 diagnostic technologies, and building the capacity of hospital staff to manufacture alcohol-based hand sanitizer in-house, which helped optimize resources.

All activities in Pakistan were completed and the program was closed in 2023.

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Office

Islamabad, Pakistan