The capital city of Kabul, Afghanistan, recently hosted a three-day domestic Medicines and Health Goods Expo. During the opening ceremony, the head of the National Food and Drug Authority expressed concern about the importation of illegal and subpar medications, as it poses a threat to local manufacturers.
Abdul Bari Omar, the chairman of the National Food and Drug Authority, urged businesses to refrain from smuggling such medicines, emphasizing the negative impact it would have on local manufacturers. He made a heartfelt plea, urging traders involved in smuggling to stop their activities in the name of Allah and show mercy towards the people of Afghanistan.
Omar also mentioned that significant progress had been made in curbing drug smuggling, with 70% of such activities already halted. However, efforts are still ongoing to combat the remaining 30% of smuggling incidents.
According to Said Noor Pacha, a spokesperson for the Association of Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Companies, Afghanistan has achieved self-sufficiency in both quantity and quality for 15% of medications. The country currently produces 630 different types of pharmaceuticals, with investments totaling $320 million. The domestic pharmaceutical industry employs approximately 5,000 people.
Despite these accomplishments, Pacha highlighted that the manufacturing process is being hindered by the presence of low-quality foreign drugs in the market. Expo participants called upon the de facto authorities to provide significant assistance to liberate Afghanistan from its reliance on imported medicines.
Overall, the expo aimed to showcase the progress and potential of Afghanistan’s domestic pharmaceutical industry while emphasizing the importance of curbing the importation of illegal and subpar medications to protect local manufacturers and ensure the provision of high-quality healthcare to the population.
