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‘New population policy to be announced in 2010’

* Health secretary tells NA homeopathic medicines need regulating
* Country lacks appropriate checks on use of dangerous ingredients in alternative medicines

By Irfan Bukhari

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Population Welfare, Firdous Ashiq Awan on Monday informed the National Assembly the new population policy would be announced in the first quarter of 2010. To a question during the NA question hour session, she said her ministry was taking all stakeholders on board before drawing the new policy to combat the population explosion.

The NA was told the new health policy would introduce laws to regulate homeopathic, ayurvedic and unani medicines and institutes teaching medical science so as to avoid malpractices.

Regulation required: To a question, Health Secretary Dr Mehreen Razzaq Bhutto told the House that homeopathic medicines needed to be regulated as the existing Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) Ordinance of 1962 did not provide adequate laws to cover them. “Around 130 homeopathic medical colleges are working across the country and also awarding certificates to their graduates,” she said adding that no homeopathic medical college was being allowed to run without adopting the proper procedures as defined by the PMDC.

Lacking: To another question, the health secretary admitted the country lacked an appropriate mechanism to check the usage of dangerous ingredients in homeopathic and unani medicines. “However, the new health policy would ensure methods to introduce strict checks in this regard,” the health secretary said.

Mehreen said the Health Ministry was going to review the registration criteria of medical colleges, adding there were flaws in the existing ordinance.

In a written reply, the health minister told the House the PMDC had received requests for inspection of five new private medical institutions whose cases were being processed. The health minister said the medical degree of Bachelor of Homeopathic and Medicine was being awarded by three colleges, adding there was only one government-run homeopathic college.

To a question, she said the prices of medicines had risen following the decrease in the value of the rupee against the Us dollar and the euro.

Also, Railways Minister Haji Ghulam Ahmad Bilour told the House a project for procurement/manufacture of 75 Chinese diesel electric locomotives had been finalised. “Out of the 75 locomotives, 25 will be procured in the shape of completely built units whereas 50 will be assembled at the Pakistan Locomotive Factory in Risalpur,” the railway minister said.

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