15 April 2005	Friday	04 Rabi-ul-Awwal 1426

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ISLAMABAD, April 14: The government is considering a proposal to establish Drug Regulatory Authority (DRA) to ensure access of quality, safe and efficacious drugs to the people. Health Minister Mohammad Nasir Khan told the National Assembly here Thursday that a drug regulatory authority was being set up on the directions of the cabinet.

He also welcomed proposals by Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal for a debate on health policy in the National Assembly and said the health policy was based on prevention, which always helped control the spread of different diseases. This is the reason that only four cases of polio have been reported from all over the country so far, he said.

Referring to the spurious drugs, the minister said the situation was not as alarming as was being propagated by certain quarters. He cited an incident in which fake medicines were seized in Afghanistan but Pakistan was blamed for sending these medicines. Later it was confirmed that these medicines had come into Afghanistan from some other country.

Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, he told the house, had also agreed to enhance the budgetary allocations for health by 42 per cent in the upcoming budget, as government accorded priority to health care.

This increase, he said, would nearly be one per cent of the total budget, admitting, however, that the increase was still far less than what other countries spent on health.

About private practice of doctors, the health minister said it was a question of ethics and “we as a nation will have to sit together and chalk out a strategy to end this culture”.

Referring to DRA, he said the authority would also help in achieving self-sufficiency and self-reliance in manufacture of drugs.

The DRA would be responsible for the administration of the Drugs Act 1976 and the rules made thereunder. The authority would exercise all powers and functions of the federal government to promote research and development in pharmaceutical sector and to promote people’s access to drugs and medicines.

The authority would also make policies for the development of pharmacy services in Pakistan to improve drug delivery system besides maintaining liaison with international agencies for obtaining assistance and strengthening the activities and functions of the authority.