'Herbal medicines to be included in drug regulation laws'

The Senate's Special Committee on Formation of Drugs Regulatory Authority (DRA) will initiate the process of including herbal, ayurvedic, homeo and greek medicines in the drug regulation laws of the country. Talking to APP, Convenor of the committee, Senator A. Haseeb Khan said that the body would ensure availability of safe, efficacious and quality drugs in the market in line with international practice.
He said the body had decided to amend advertising rules in a manner that advertisements of non-allopathic medicines are adequately and ethically covered. He said the body had approved terms of reference (TORs) to facilitate swift formation of the Healthcare and Drugs Regulatory Authority (HDRA) in the country.
He added the committee would get support from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and other international regulatory authorities to help establish HDRA, in line with current regulatory and legislative practices applied in developed countries. The committee also approved TORs to constitute the Policy Board of HDRA, providing organogram and constitution of HDRA, creating the basis of establishment of HDRA along with its basic components Drugs Regulatory Authority (DRA) and Healthcare Regulatory Authority (HRA), he added. The body will identify areas that will be covered under the DRA and HRA respectively besides putting forward draft of ordinance for the establishment of DRA.
Senator A Haseeb Khan said that the committee would expedite selection of the CEO of DRA and ensure transparency in absorption of existing employees and initiate the HDRA based on right size and relevant objectives. He said that the committee would ensure that the public interest was safeguarded through provision of safe, quality and affordable healthcare. He said the body would protect the interest of private sector by facilitating it with just and speedy resolution of their hardships besides providing guidelines supporting improvements in provision of healthcare to the public.
The convenor of the Senate Special Committee said such guidelines supporting improvement in the quality standards of the pharma industry would help increase exports of medicines. He said that sincere efforts were needed not only for regulating drug manufacturing but also other important sectors of the healthcare, including regulation of hospitals, diagnostic lab, pathology labs, immunisation programmes, medical education etc.
These important segments of healthcare also need to be properly addressed which are being transferred to the provinces in one department or the other, he added. He said that the healthcare was a vital subject and lives and health of the nation is to be dealt with seriousness, avoiding implication and ensuring same treatment conditions for everyone.