February 14: The federal government has banned doctors from prescribing vitamins and food supplements and ordered concerned authorities to take action in case any physician is found involved in violation of the orders.
The Federal government has notified new rules in this regard. The federal cabinet had approved banning the doctors from prescribing food supplements and vitamins in its meeting held on February 6, 2025. The notification in this regard issued on February 13 said “In pursuance to the Federal Cabinet decision in its meeting held on 6 February, 2024, following actions with respect to sale, dispensing. prescription and enlistment/registration of vitamins.
multi-vitamins,
minerals,
food
supplements, nutritional products and health & Over the Counter (OTC) products are to be taken:
Pakistan Medical & Dental Council is directed to prohibit prescription of all vitamins, multi-vitamins, minerals and health & over the counter products by physicians/doctors/medical & dental practitioners and to take all necessary steps forthwith including amendment. If any, in code of practice and ethics for the medical and dental practitioners under section 47 of Pakistan Medical and Dental Council Act, 2023 (Act No. IV of 2023).|
i.
All provincial health departments and Islamabad Capital Territory Administration are directed to prohibit dispensing of the above mentioned products at pharmacies/medical stores and take all necessary steps including amendments, if any, in relevant rules to ensure that these products are sold over segregated & self-service shelves along with products of personal/healthcare. It is to be ensured that all established pharmacies must have a qualified pharmacist at the counter.
iit.
All Provisional Healthcare Commissions and Islamabad Healthcare Regulatory Authority (IHRA) are directed to ensure compliance of code of practice and ethics for the medical and dental practitioners.
iv.
Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) is directed to register or enlist vitamins, multi-vitamins, minerals and health & over the counter products according to best global practices. DRAP will also coordinate with provincial health authorities to ensure prohibition of dispensing of vitamins, multi-vitamins, minerals and health & over the counter products and ensure sale of these products over segregated and self-service shelves along with products of personal/healtheare care on pharmacies/medical stores.
2. All concerned are to submit compliance report of the decision of the Federal Cabinet within fourteen days of issuance to this notification”.
The caretaker government decision to ban doctors from prescribing supplements , vitamins and nutritional products will end a curse in Pakistan and protect patients from getting supplements , vitamins like medicines . In Pakistan doctors are unnecessarily putting financial burden on the patients by prescribing food supplements, vitamins and nutritional products . The caretaker government’s decision will end doctors – supplements / vitamins producer nexus and save patients from their lust of making money at the cost of their lives.
Who will than prescribe Multivitamins and supplements to patients ?