Ijaz Kakakhel Islamabad
A legislative body of Upper House of Parliament on Wednesday expressed serious reservations regarding abundance of unauthorized practitioners or quacks risking the lives of common people in Pakistan.
The reservations were expressed during Senate Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation, which was held under the chairmanship of Senator Farooq Hamid Naek here at Parliament House.
Delegated legislation pertaining to regulation of alternative medicines in Pakistan was scrutinized by the committee.
Chairman committee sought explanation from Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) officials regarding regulation of homeopathic, Tib and Ayurvedic practice and education in Pakistan.
The DRAP officials were of the view that practices, licensing and registration of such practitioners is regulated by respective health commissions and matter does not fall under the ambit of the DRAP.
The DRAP only deals with matters related to enlisting of medicines manufactured or imported in the country and authorizing their usage by registered health professionals.
Homeopathic practice is governed by National Council for Homoeopathy and Tibb falls under the regulatory control of National Council for Tibb.
Chairman committee directed to call officials of the respective councils in the next meeting of the committee for further deliberations on the matter and further commented that the DRAP should not frame rules without consulting relevant councils.
Committee discussed the agenda item number one and two on point of public importance regarding appointment of PAS officers as Chief Secretaries in the four provinces as well as in Azad Kashmir & GB raised by Senator Kauda Babar on the floor of the House and referred to the committee on 14thof June, 2021.
Secretary Establishment informed the committee members that matter is sub-judice before courts through multiple litigations and committee could not discuss the matters pending before courts as it is likely to prejudice the consideration of the matter by the tribunal, commission or court of inquiry.
Chairman Committee asked Secretary Establishment to present copies of petitions and comments filed in return by Establishment Division in the next meeting of committee.
