ISLAMABAD: Actemra injection is being sold in Pakistan’s black market for Rs 0.6 million plus while its approved price is only Rs 39 thousand.
Actemra, a product of Roche, a Swiss company, is not available in Pakistan’s open market since July last and Roche Pakistan, which is a sole registered importer of the medicine and responsible under Drug Act 1976 to maintain smooth supply of actemra injection confirms shortage of the product in the open market but says there was no hope that the injection would be available in Pakistan’s open market by end of this year.
When NEWSMAN contacted to Roche Pakistan office in Karachi by phone, Mr Waqar a company officer, said “ Shortage of actemra is a global phenomenon and it’s going to stay at least by December of the current year. When Mr Waqar was reminded that Drug Act 1976 makes the registered manufacturer or importer responsible to ensure sufficient supply of the product in the market he said “ I can only say shortage is not limited to Pakistan’s market and how come Roche Pakistan can ensure smooth supply of actemra to meet Drug Act 1976 requirement when it was not available globally.
This correspondent turned towards Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) to know what was its responsibility in such a scenario and if it took any action against Roche Pakistan for failing in maintaining smooth supply of actremra in the open market at reasonable price?.
Akhtar Abbas, DRAP’s official spokesman told this correspondent that he was on leave and hence not authorized for comment on the issue. He, however, suggested to this correspondent to contact Mr Asim Rauf, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for DRAP’s point of view on the story. NEWSMAN tried to contact Mr Asim Rauf on his official contact number, besides leaving a questionnaire on his whatsapp, but as usual, he did not like to respond. Mr Asim Rauf is known for giving damn care to media and he lived -up to this attitude in this case also.
Pakistan is the only country in the world where doctors are recommending the use of actemra injection for serious COVID-19 patients to create its artificial market. The doctors having lust for money prescribe this injection in almost every serious case. The doctors ask the attendants of serious patients to arrange actemra injection as it could be the last hope for survival of their patients. The attendants who see risk to life of their patients get panic and rush to arrange money to buy actemra and this is what the doctors better called mafia works.
A 20 mg/ ml actemra injection is a prescription medicine called an Interleukin-6 (IL-6) receptor antagonist. Actemra is used to treat: Adults with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis (RA), after at least one other medicine called a Disease-Modifying Anti-Rheumatic
The long list of side effects of actemra clearly suggests how dangerous its use could be for the COVID patients. The data available on google also confirms that the most common side effects of actemra included upper respiratory tract infections (common cold, sinus infections), headache, increased blood pressure (hypertension) and injection site reactions It can have serious allergic reactions and it can cause death with actemra use. These reactions can happen with any infusion or injection of actemra, even if they did not occur with an earlier infusion or injection. Tell your healthcare provider before your next dose if you had hives, rash or flushing after your injection. Seek medical attention right away if you have any of the following signs of a serious allergic reaction.
