Non-allopathic medicines’ registration bill ready

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly’s (NA) standing committee for health has passed a bill for the registration and regulation of all non-allopathic and ayurvedic medicines. Hajera Tariq Aziz presided over the committee meeting. Representatives of homeopathic and non-allopathic medicines manufacturers also attended the meeting.

The bill stipulates that those manufacturers found guilty of illegal or substandard manufacturing of the said medicines would be sentenced to six to 36 months in jail. The bill calls for the establishment of a board for regulation and registration of these medicines and a court to hear all related cases.

The meeting was told that Health Ministry officials and representatives of non-allopathic institutions and councils would be part of the board. The committee said that the board would appoint inspectors to monitor the manufacturing process and establish quality control, while the special courts would be governed by the Drug Act 1976. An appeal against any of the special courts’ decisions would lie at the high court. The bill has also prescribed a fine of Rs 50 000 for negligent inspectors. online

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