The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) has launched a massive enforcement campaign against pharmaceutical and nutraceutical companies promoting therapeutic products without official clearance. This move follows a significant rise in unregulated medical advertisements across mainstream and digital media platforms, including TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube. DRAP has made it clear that any company marketing medicines or health supplements without prior approval from the Advertisement Board will face severe legal consequences.
Under the newly implemented Therapeutic Goods Advertisement Rules 2025, all manufacturers and importers are legally required to obtain a No Objection Certificate before launching any promotional campaign. This regulation applies to all registered medicines and listed health products, even for advertisements that merely announce the availability of a product. The regulator has classified unauthorized advertising as a cognizable offense, warning that violators could face heavy fines or suspension of licenses.
A primary concern for the authority is the widespread promotion of products claiming to offer guaranteed cures for chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, infertility, and obesity. Many of these advertisements make sweeping, unverified claims that mislead the public and pose serious health risks. Furthermore, DRAP has identified several unlicensed manufacturing units using social media and call centers to sell substandard medicines directly to consumers via courier services.
In collaboration with the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), DRAP is targeting these illegal operations to ensure public safety. Cases involving the manufacturing of fake or unregistered drugs will be referred to law enforcement agencies for immediate prosecution. Industry associations have been formally notified to ensure their members comply with the 2025 rules. While the authority is prioritizing the processing of legitimate advertisement applications, it remains firm that the era of unregulated medical marketing in Pakistan has come to an end. This crackdown is expected to bring much-needed transparency to the healthcare sector and protect citizens from potentially dangerous or fraudulent therapeutic claims.
