Pakistan's Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Monday approved the setting up of an autonomous Drug Regulatory Authority (DRA) to ensure supply of quality drugs and to streamline their registration.
The decision was taken a meeting chaired by Prime Minister at the PM House. Necessary registration for setting up of the authority will be presented to the cabinet for approval. The prime minister was informed that the draft of DRA Act has been finalised in consultation with all stakeholders, including PPMA, the Pharma Bureau, PPA, PMA, provincial governments and the civil society.
The authority will be an autonomous organisation represented by all stakeholders and its establishment will consolidate and regulate enforcement of laws relating to drugs, medicines and medical devices, the health secretary said in a detailed briefing on the DRA.
The meeting was attended by Federal Health Minister Muhammad Nasir Khan, Secretary Health Syed Anwar Mehmood, Director General Health Maj-Gen Shahida Malik and senior officials.
The health secretary said the DRA will promote rational use of drugs with ethical marketing practices besides rationalising their prices. The DRA will ensure accessibility to quality, safe and efficacious drugs, medicines and medical devices to those in need.
He said the DRA will also promote research and development, use and transfer of technology in drug and medicine sector and pharmacovigilance and drug information system. The authority will comprise a chairman and full time members, as heads of units. The full-time members shall be separately responsible for registration, licensing and quality control, research and strategic planning, pricing and finance and administration and legal affairs.
The prime minister was informed that a Drug Regulatory Authority Policy Board would be set up which will be headed by the federal minister for health and will have representation of the federal government, provincial governments and professionals from the public and private sector. The Policy Board will be responsible for framing the policy for the performance and functions of the Drug Regulatory Authority.
Source: South Asia Media Net