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ISLAMABAD, Nov 05 (APP):The Senate Standing Committee on National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, convened a meeting at the Parliament House on Wednesday to discuss a range of important matters related to the health sector.
The important matters including “The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (Amendment) Bill, 2025,” the current status of polio eradication efforts, and the functioning and performance of the National Council for Homeopathy were briefly discussed during the meeting.
The Committee also reviewed the compliance report submitted by the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination regarding medicine pricing, hardship cases, and new registrations.
The Committee recommended that while ensuring investor confidence and allowing a reasonable business margin, due consideration must also be given to protecting the interests of the common man so that essential medicines remain affordable.
It was further emphasized that wage increases and production costs should be reasonably justified, and that the Ministry should review the activities of the SCR and ongoing research and development initiatives to promote transparency and efficiency in the pricing process.
While discussing the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (Amendment) Bill, 2025, Senator Dr. Zarqa Suharwardy Taimur appreciated the ongoing work of the Committee and expressed her willingness to align with its recommendations.
The Minister for National Health Services underlined that any abrupt changes to the existing regulatory framework could jeopardize the national pharmaceutical landscape, stressing the need to maintain stability and coherence within the system. Chairman Senator Amir Waliuddin Chishti observed that the implications of the proposed amendments would be nationwide and called for a balanced and carefully structured approach.
The minister further assured the Committee that the Ministry would present a comprehensive way forward and ensure that all stakeholders, including the incoming administration, are taken on board in the reform process.
The Committee also received a briefing on the current status and progress of polio eradication efforts in Pakistan. Senator Masroor Ahsan raised concerns regarding the continued presence of the virus despite repeated vaccination campaigns.
The minister informed the Committee that poor sanitation, hygiene deficiencies, and contaminated sewage water remain major contributing factors to the persistence of the virus, particularly in Karachi, Lahore, and southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He added that vaccination campaigns alone cannot eradicate the virus without addressing environmental causes.
Senator Amir Waliuddin Chishti emphasized that eradication of polio requires collective responsibility at the grassroots level and accountability from elected representatives and local government institutions.
He further underscored that immunisation efforts must be complemented by coordinated social, religious, and administrative initiatives to counter misconceptions and strengthen public trust in the campaign. Highlighting the importance of local engagement, the Chairman recommended that district Members of Parliament promote awareness of polio by producing parliamentary videos in all relevant regional languages to be shared on social media, ensuring that public health messages effectively reach every community.
Moreover, the Committee reviewed the functioning and performance of the National Council for Homeopathy (NCH), with a focus on curriculum reforms, promotion of research and development, and actions against fake homeopathic doctors and unauthorized practitioners.
Chairman Senator Amir Waliuddin Chishti stressed the importance of swift implementation of the proposed reforms across all relevant institutions, stating that if these measures are executed within days, the Committee will take up the matter again in its next meeting.
The Minister for National Health Services assured the Committee that the required steps would be implemented promptly. Senator Amir Waliuddin Chishti reiterated that strengthening the regulatory framework of the NCH is essential to uphold standards of homeopathic education and practice and to safeguard public health.
The meeting was chaired by Senator Amir Waliuddin Chishti, and attended by Senators Dr. Zarqa Suharwardy Taimur, Rubina Khalid, Samina Mumtaz Zehri, Anusha Rahman Ahmad Khan, Dilawar Khan, Syed Masroor Ahsan, the Minister for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, and senior officials from the concerned department.