ISLAMABAD: The federal cabinet would approve appointment of federal government analyst for biological drugs today (Tuesday) for certification of vaccines and biological products, imported and produced locally.

Sources said that the Ministry of National Health Services and Regulations had moved a summary to the federal cabinet with the request that many vaccines and biological products, imported and produced locally, required certificate of the federal government analyst, had necessitated appointment of federal government analyst on an immediate basis.

Sources added that the proposal stated that as per the DRAP Act, 2012, human biological drug was not allowed for sale and use until a "Lot Release Certificate" was obtained from the federal government analyst.

Therefore, there is need to appoint federal government analyst and three names were proposed after seeking nominations from different hospitals/medical institutions, Amna Bibi, Mr Muhammad Arif Chaudhry, and Chaudhry Zeeshan Nazir, for appointment of the federal government analyst.

The federal government analyst also heads the National Control Laboratory for Biologicals (NCLB), Islamabad, and reports to Director (Quality Assurance and Lab Testing) of the DRAP.

Previous drug analyst was appointed for a period of three months, whose tenure has expired in June 2020.

The Drug Act 1976 promulgated to regulate the import, export, manufacture storage, distribution, and sale of drugs provides that there would be a government analyst appointed by the federal government or a provincial government for appointment of drug analysts.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020