New DRAP chief urges pharmacists to think big, save lives and lead healthcare reforms
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Chief Executive Officer of the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) Dr Obaidullah Malik addresses an event on April 21, 2025. — Facebook@OfficialDRAP
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ISLAMABAD: Pharmacists must be free from traditional roles and guide clinical trials, pharmaceuticals, and anti -microbial stories to save lives and promote health care results in Pakistan, and the Drug Regulatory Authority (DRAP), DRAP, said in Pakistan.
He called on pharmacists to upgrade their knowledge, embrace emerging sectors like stem cell technology, and work with health care providers at both the hospitals and the social level.
Addressing a gathering after 2025 organized by the Pakistan Pharmacist Association (PPA) in Islamabad, Dr. Obaidullah emphasized that pharmacists have an important role in modern health care systems. The program recognized the organizing committee of the 21st International Pharmacy Conference and Exhibition (IPCE) 2024 and honored the PPA ambassadors.
Highlighting the three major areas – pharmaceutical, anti -microbial stresses, and clinical trials – Dr. Obaidullah expressed regret that the pharmacist involved in these important fields is limited. “Pharmaceuticals ensures the safety of drugs by detecting negative reactions to drugs, counteracting antibiotic resistance, and clinical trials form a future treatment,” he explained.
He said that pharmacists are very important to strengthen the health care system, contributes to one of the six building blocks identified by the World Health Organization (WHO) that have access to essential drugs and technologies.
Appreciating one of the best pharmacy programs held in the country to the 21st IPCE, Dr. Obaidullah stressed that such conferences are important platforms for the distribution of knowledge and professional development.
He also acknowledged the contribution of former drop leaders, which supported ASIM Rauf to drop the steering and performance towards transparency and performance, and Dr. Mohammad Aslam was presented to increase his international profile. “He stood firmly during the challenging hours and turned the drop into a more trusted organization,” he said.
Demanding the pharmacy profession to be upgraded, he said that pharmacists should move beyond traditional domains and spread to emerging areas such as gene therapy, personal medicine, regulatory sciences and nanotechnology. He emphasized, “Pharmacists must think bigger, cooperate in articles, and work together to strengthen Pakistan’s health care sector.”
Expressing concern over the lack of pharmacists in the Armed Forces health care system, he emphasized the need for more involvement to ensure patients’ safety and medical development.
Dr. Obaidullah also warned against immoral methods, especially by renting pharmacy degrees, calling it a dangerous phenomenon that damages the reputation of the profession. He emphasized that “pharmacists should maintain morality rather than find a shortcut and have to actively serve the health care system.”
PPA President Sardar Shabbir Ahmed welcomed Dr. Obaidullah and acknowledged the outgoing CEO Asim Rauf’s contribution. He celebrated the 21st IPCE as the most successful conference in PPA history and demanded maximum participation of pharmacists across the country.
He emphasized, “There are only 4,000 active members out of the 70,000 pharmacists across the country. We need more pharmacists to participate, participate in elections and create the future of the association.”
Business leader Zafar Bakhtwari praised the appointment of Dr. Obaidullah and urged pharmacists to focus on research to increase Pakistan’s pharmaceutical exports. He also praised Asim Rauf for the professional leading drop.
Rashid Majid, Alamgir Rao, and Shefa Khan Bangash, along with senior PPA leaders, highlighted the need for professional development, moral standards, and research -driven partnerships.
The program was attended by hundreds of pharmacists from Islamabad and across the country, which confirmed its commitment to advance the pharmacy profession and strengthen Pakistan’s health care system.
