Karachi: The selling of medicine is becoming more of a general trade rather than a sensitive profession and has mushroomed alarmingly as the health department is unable to implement Drug Act in Sindh province. There are scores of medical stores across the province where non-pharmacists sell medicine and only few bother to place drug selling license on their stores, which are actually fake, in far flung areas. President Pakistan Medical Association Dr. Azizullah Khan Tank talking to PPI said that the matter of medicine being sold by un-qualified pharmacists, which are more like salesmen, is on the increase while authorities seem less bothered. “Health department does not know exact number of medical stores, exact number of registered or non registered pharmacists neither has the documents of those who obtain drug license from the department,” PMA President said. Applauding Punjab government’s efforts in this regard he said,’’One can not hope that Sindh Care Taker Government could implement Drug Policy in the province. “I know many medical stores that are run by people who can not exactly read the prescription” Dr. Tank said. Special Secretary, Health, Dr. Capt. Abdul Majid when contacted said that new drug policy has been framed in which fee increment and amendments in the Drug Act are proposed. He said that there is ban on issuing new licenses for last three months but the EDO Health Karachi has issued few. He added that health department is considering issuing new licenses to those who meet minimum qualification. EDO Health Karachi Dr. A. D. Sajnani in his views said that he has issued no new drug selling licenses but has only approved those who were pending before the ban was imposed. “There are around 5000 registered medical stores where qualified pharmacists sell drugs, and around 150 do not have the license but still sell drugs,” EDO Health said.—PPI