Afghan Officials Deny Claims of Demands for Low-Quality Drugs from Some Afghan Traders
Hamidullah Zahid, Deputy Minister of Drugs and Food at the Ministry of Public Health, has stated that several pharmaceutical companies in Bangladesh have claimed that some Afghan traders requested them to produce low-quality drugs. He mentioned that this issue was raised in an official program and elicited a serious response from health authorities.
According to Zahid, representatives of these companies said that “traders who identify themselves as Muslims have asked us to produce low-quality drugs for them.” He emphasized that the Taliban administration does not accept any compromise on drug quality and standards, and no individual or entity should expect leniency in this regard.
The Deputy Minister of Drugs and Food added that any negligence in adhering to health standards would have severe consequences for the credibility of the country’s health system. He stated that even minimal cooperation with traders in compromising drug standards would damage Afghanistan’s reputation internationally.
These remarks come amid ongoing concerns among citizens about drug quality, as well as the monitoring of drug imports and distribution. Given the lack of a transparent and accountable regulatory system, many residents expect the Taliban administration to provide more details on how it plans to prevent the entry of low-quality drugs and investigate these claims.
