ISLAMABAD, Sept 30: The National Assembly's standing committee on health opposed a proposed amendment to section 12 of the Drugs Act 1976 in its meeting on Thursday.

The amendment was proposed by MNA Rana Asif Tauseef of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz.

The standing committee, which met under the chairmanship of MNA Dr Hajra Tariq Aziz, took up the proposed amendment which said: "The federal government, while fixing the price of drugs under sub-section (1), shall consult all stakeholders including the members of the public and shall also take into consideration the economic conditions of the country and, in particular, the poor segment of the society."

The proposed amendment was forwarded to the standing committee on health by the minister of state for parliamentary affairs, Raza Hayat Heraj. The federal minister for health, Mohammad Nasir Khan, who represented the ministry along with other high-ranking officials, was of the view that laws were available, but they were not implemented.

However, after discussion, the health minister as well as members of the standing committee unanimously opposed the bill, and it was sent back to the minister of state for parliamentary affairs.

Before discussing the proposed amendment, the committee was briefed on the Drug Act 1976, and the amendments made to it so far, an official handout of the National Assembly said.

"The committee was informed that the federal government is responsible for manufacturing of drugs and issuance of licences. The Drug Act of 1976 comprises 47 sections, but it only relates to allopathy and does not deal with herbal, traditional and homoeopathic medicines," the handout added.

The meeting was attended by MNAs Dr Donya Aziz, Dr Junaid Mumtaz Joya, Malik Mohammad Saifullah Khan Tiwana, Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan, Maimoona Hashmi, Yasmeen Rehman, Shamshad Sattar Bachani and Belum Husnain. The parliamentary secretary on health, Rahila Yahwa Munawar, was also present on the occasion.