ISLAMABAD:
The Senate Standing Committee on National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, chaired by Senator Amir Waliuddin Chishti, convened at the Parliament House to discuss major health issues, including the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (Amendment) Bill, 2025, the progress of the polio eradication campaign, and the performance of the National Council for Homeopathy (NCH).
The Committee reviewed the Ministry’s compliance report on medicine pricing, hardship cases, and new drug registrations, emphasizing the importance of protecting public interest by keeping essential medicines affordable. It urged the Ministry to maintain investor confidence while discouraging unwarranted price hikes and called for stronger oversight of the Standing Committee on Research (SCR) to ensure transparency in R&D processes.
Discussing the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) Act amendments, the Minister for National Health Services cautioned that abrupt policy changes could destabilize the pharmaceutical sector. Senator Chishti highlighted the need for a balanced, consultative approach, noting that these amendments would have long-term national implications. The Minister assured the Committee that the reform process would involve all stakeholders and the incoming administration.
On polio eradication, members expressed concern over the virus’s persistence in Karachi, Lahore, and southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The Minister attributed the challenge to poor sanitation, contaminated sewage, and hygiene issues. Senator Chishti emphasized collective accountability, proposing that district parliamentarians record short awareness videos in regional languages to counter misinformation and improve vaccine acceptance.
The Committee also discussed the state of the National Council for Homeopathy, focusing on curriculum modernization, research enhancement, and crackdown on fake practitioners. Senator Chishti underscored the urgency of implementing reforms and announced that progress would be reviewed in the next session. The Minister pledged immediate action to strengthen NCH’s regulatory and academic standards.
The meeting was attended by Senators Dr. Zarqa Suharwardy Taimur, Rubina Khalid, Samina Mumtaz Zehri, Anusha Rahman Ahmad Khan, Dilawar Khan, and Syed Masroor Ahsan, along with the Minister for National Health Services and senior officials from the concerned departments.
