Efforts afoot to enforce drug regulations: minister

Federal Minister for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination Saira Afzal Tarar has said that efforts are being made to enforce drug regulations and improving the standard of medical education in the country. Addressing the inaugural ceremony of refurbishment of National Institute of Health (NIH) here on Wednesday, she said that the ministry has been coordinating public health and population welfare at national and international levels for fulfilling international obligations and commitments.
She said that the ministry is also providing oversight for provincial and national health regulatory bodies. She said, "When we took office we were confronted with the major challenges of redefining the roles and responsibilities of the federal government in the health sector in the light of 18th constitutional amendment."
The Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) government accepted the challenge and worked hard with the provincial governments in not only supporting them in their new role but also effectively carried out the task of standardization and regulation of health services alongside mobilizing resources from international partners to support major initiatives being implemented by the federating units. She said that National Institute of Health (NIH) is a national asset and has enormous potential.
The uplift of NIH will contribute towards achieving Sustainable Development Goals and serve country's people. The minister said one of her major targets is reviving the production of measles vaccine at the NIH.
This is critical in backdrop of growing incidence of the disease and epidemics of the disease in different parts of the country but with concerted collective efforts, the ministry will be able to achieve this objective.
She said that another major issue was up-gradation of laboratory facilities, a task that has been successfully undertaken. Today, the institute is undertaking successful implementation of five years roadmap of International Health Regulations and Global Health Security Agenda along with implementation of Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response System in the country, he added.
"Our government has strengthened institutions, made them viable so that they can contribute effectively in improving the lot of our people," she said.
She said that new initiatives announced in the next budget will be of critical importance in supporting the provinces in arresting malnutrition and disabilities. "We have come a long way and served our people to the best of our abilities," she claimed.