Health Ministry promises:

Better access to cheaper, quality drugs

by Carol Aloysius

The Health Ministry has assured the public that health services would be much improved in the coming weeks, with better access to good quality drugs at a cheaper rate.

When the National Medicine Regulatory Authority Act is established, for the regulation of medicinal drugs, medical devices and even borderline products, the services would vastly improve, Ministry officials said.

The Regulatory Authority comprising 13 members are tasked with ensuring that all medicinal drugs, medicinal devices and borderline products will be regulated according to four tenets- safety, efficacy, quality and affordability.

The Act also provides for the establishment of a National Consultative Committee.

Allaying fears of delays and breakdown in services due to the sudden change in the regulatory authority, a Spokesperson from the Health Ministry said:

Nothing has changed. All contracts and agreements with the previous Authority, the Consumer Devices and Drugs Regulatory Authority under the repealed Act will continue to be in force."

The Spokesperson added, what was new was the inclusion of 'borderline products.' "These are basically products that make therapeutic claims such as creams to make one fairer, anti-aging creams and those claiming to rejuvenate you overnight. Due to increasing complaints from customers, we will now test and evaluate these products and imported products, as they

could result in health risks to users."

The spokesperson also said, existing public health inspectors as well as those appointed under the new Committee will be empowered to enter any premises or drug store to carry out raids. Informed sources also said, the new Authority would look into the pricing formula to reduce the prices of drugs. "We are studying the price formula in neighbouring countries at present," the source said.