ISLAMABAD- The Health Ministry is seriously considering amending the Drug Act 1976 in order to create a provision for the most controversial Data Protection Rules, TheNation learnt reliably here on Monday. However, on the other hand, local pharmaceutical industry is consistently expressing its grievances to the ministry, as implementation of the Data Protection Rules(DPR) would give them a tough time to compete with international pharmaceutical companies in the market. The Data Protection Rules are going to benefit only the big crocodiles as in Pakistan's pharmaceutical industry not a penny is being invested on research so ultimately it would be an extra advantage for the multinational pharmaceutical companies. As per the system of Data Protection Rules if a certain formula or a new molecule is launched in a Pakistan then it will attain the protection of rights for next five years even without having any application review. For next five year a certain person or company would reserve the right of that particular formula or molecules thus bounding others specially local pharmaceutical industry not to compete and would have a free hand to play monopoly in market. Already the basic commodities prices in country are soaring and in a situation like this if Data Protection Rule is implemented then ultimately the medicines prices will increase and the burden would be on masses shoulders, said one of the pharmacist official while talking to TheNation. In European countries where the Data Protection Rule is implemented, medical facilities are provided from government side and individuals have no concern over medicine prices, he added. He opined that the implementation of Data Protection Rule in a poor country like Pakistan where the people have to pay for medicines from their own pockets would further worsen the situation. In SAARC region it is only Pakistan that is trying to implement the Data Protection Rule as no other SAARC country has even considered to enforce the Data Protection Rule. It is only rich countries of Europe and G-8 that have the Data Protection Rules, said one of the health official requesting not to be named. He said that the local pharmaceutical companies are already suffering under the patent rights and implementation of Data Protection right would add fuel to fire. Data Protection Rule will give monopoly to few main multinational companies in pharmaceutical industry, which will ultimately result in increased medicine prices.