ISLAMABAD: Federal Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal on Sunday said the Pharmacy Act 1967, along with the pharmacy curriculum, should be restructured in line with international standards.

“Pharmacy graduates should be trained to effectively meet both national and international healthcare needs, ensuring the quality of medicines, patient safety and professional competence,” he said after getting a briefing by the director general (health) and the director of pharmacy services, Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (Drap).

The minister directed the constitution of a technical committee to review the existing legal framework and propose amendments to the Pharmacy Act 1967.

Furthermore, he instructed the president of the Pharmacy Council (DG health) to fully digitise all functions of the Pharmacy Council of Pakistan to enhance transparency, efficiency and institutional effectiveness.

Reaffirming the importance of pharmacists, the minister stated that pharmacists were a vital component of the healthcare system and reiterated the government’s strong commitment to strengthening and improving pharmacy services across the country.

Published in Dawn, January 12th, 2026