ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of National Health Services (NHS) has decided to send a summary to the caretaker government for filling the seat of Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan’s (Drap) chief executive officer, which has been vacant for five months.

Talking to Dawn, NHS Secretary Naveed Kamran Baloch said that a meeting of Drap’s policy board has been called on Thursday to discuss the issue before sending the summary to the Prime Minister’s Office through the Establishment Division.

In the first week of March, the government issued a belated advertisement for the seat of Drap CEO, a post which will remain under temporary arrangement till the appointment of a permanent head. Drap’s first ever permanent head, Dr Mohammad Aslam, retired on Feb 1 this year after the completion of his tenure. After that, acting charge of the post was given to a Drap officer, Sheikh Akhtar Hussain, through an office order.

The seat has been vacant for five months since the authority’s first ever permanent head retired

Last month, the ministry selected three candidates from a list of 20 applications received for the post and also announced that a security clearance of the candidates will be done. These candidates include Dr Zakaur Rehman, Asim Rauf and Sheikh Akhtar Hussain.

However, a permanent head could not be appointed till date.

Mr Balouch said in his opinion, the caretaker government can select a candidate for the post of CEO.

Drap’s policy board is chaired by the secretary NHS and has 15 members. There are also six technical expert members on the board including retired Maj Gen Prof Salman Ali, Prof Dr Abdul Salam, Prof Abdul Bari, Abdul Latif Sheikh, Prof Dr Zafar Iqbal and Irshad Hussain.

Mr Baloch said the policy board will discuss the issue and will decide to send the summary to the Prime Minister’s Office within a few days.

Asked if the caretaker government is empowered to make such decision, Mr Baloch said he thinks it is and that if there is any confusion, the law division can be asked for its opinion.

Drap was established under the Drap Act 2012 to provide effective coordination and enforcement of the Drugs Act, 1976 and to bring harmony in inter-provincial trade and commerce of therapeutic goods. It also decides about the prices of medicines and takes notice in case of complaints of substandard drugs.

Published in Dawn, June 7th, 2018