THIS is apropos of the news items about the havoc created by suspected drugs in Punjab and ambiguous response by those who are at the helm of drug testing and controlling in Sindh (Jan 27).

Unequivocally, the death of hundred plus people is enough evidence of the abysmal state of drug controlling and testing mechanism followed by government authorities now.

Generally speaking, throughout the world there is a triangle consisting of a doctor, a pharmacist and a patient which is practised in hospitals. A pharmacist is one who guides both the doctor and the patient about the medicine prescribed by the former to the latter.

According to WHO standards, there should be a pharmacist for a 50 - bed hospital and a drug inspector for every 250 medical stores or pharmacies.

The recent incident of such a large number of deaths certainly indicates that these standards are not followed strictly. While the Punjab government is trying hard to combat the problem, let us shed some light on Sindh’s drug controlling and testing infrastructure.

Statistics show some surprising facts for Sindh. At presen there are only 19 drug inspectors and 13 hospital pharmacists that are working for the whole province.

Interestingly, these drug inspectors are responsible for keeping an eye on all pharmacies and drug manufacturers of the province. The last drug inspector was recruited almost a decade ago.

Every year thousands of pharmacists graduate from our universities but the government seems reluctant on utilising their professional expertise for health issues. It is time the age-old pharmacy-related infrastructure was revised to avert such incidents in the future.

GOBIND MENGHWAR Hyderabad