Updated on
Summary Dr Firdous Aashiq Awan says that the DRAP is key to regulate processing of pharmaceutical drugs.
Federal Minister for National Regulations and Services has held establishment of an autonomous Drug Regulatory Authority as key to regulate processing of pharmaceutical drugs, alternative, traditional medicines, biological and medical devices.Addressing a press briefing here on Friday, she said that the DRAP Act was initiated on 30th April 2012 when the DRAP Ordinance was tabled in National Assembly as a Government Bill., which was afterwards referred to Standing Committees on National Regulations and Services.The minister said that after the signing of the DRAP Act, 2012 by the President, Mr Asif Ali Zardari on November 12, 2012 the Authority, which aims at protecting the interest of the patients, the pharmaceutical industry and the officials, would be functional.She also expressed her satisfaction that after formulation of DRAP Act, not a single employee of the devolved Drug Control Organization of Ministry of Health had been laid off, while their salaries, and retirement benefits have been ensured by the Federal Government through this Act.The minister deliberated that DRAP was designed on the pattern of the advanced regulatory authorities of countries like US and Canada.“The present government has always tried to formulate people friendly policies that would lessen the financial burden on the masses. So, to make it sure that the drugs are affordable to the patients, a separate directorate is being established to deal with this issue comprehensively”, the Minister stated.She also said that the present government had always tried to involve the stakeholders in the policy formulation process, and “ That is why, during the past six months both, the Standing Committees of National Assembly , Senate, and pharma-related stake holders had worked diligently on the finalization of DRAP Bill”, she said.
