“We appreciate USAID’s technology assistance in digitization of 15 years’ historical 4.1 million records of DRAP and I am very happy to know that DRAP’s needs have been articulated into a Document Management System (DMS) in line with international standard; said Dr. Faisal Sultan, SAPM on Health, at handing over of DMS to DRAP by USAID funded Global Health Supply Chain-Procurement and Supply Management project at Islamabad. He added that this would drastically improve the record keeping necessary for a transparent regulatory environment. Not only that DMS will ensure ease of business with local and international pharma industry but similar digitization efforts should be made with Pakistan Medical Council and other departments. CEO DRAP Mr. Asim Rauf apprised that the digitization has made it easier to store, access and transmit the paper based record, it has improved the data sharing with in the different sections of DRAP. He said, “DRAP believes in transparent and accountable management of its function as mandated by DRAP Act 2012. He said my departments have tested DMS and have started the application already. “This digitized system that USAID and the Government of Pakistan have created modernizes, streamlines, and harmonizes data archives, which directly supports data accessibility and visibility,” said USAID Deputy Mission Director Michael Nehrbass. “It will also ensure transparency of information and records management, which ultimately will help ensure access to quality-assured medicines and commodities in Pakistan.” Dr. Zafar Mirza, public health specialist/ Ex SAPM on Health, lauded the digital archiving of historical record. He said that he is pleased to see DRAP moving towards stringent regulatory authority status which would help opening new avenues for our local therapeutic products across the globe. The Country Director, USAID Global Health Supply Chain Program, Dr. Muhammad Tariq apprised the audience about USAID and Government of Pakistan’s technology cooperation for strengthening public health supply chain and digitization of DRAP record. He assured that bilateral cooperation between USAID and Pakistan is aligned with NHS and NIH vision of integrated digital health and real time information systems and that USAID funded Global Health Supply Chain will continue providing assistance on Global Standards for sustainable development. The activity was attended by the representatives from the MoNHSR&C, DRAP, NIH, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, UNICEF, WHO, JSI and USP. The ceremony concluded with handing over of Document Management System, and presentation of shields to the dignitaries.
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