Key Takeaways
- Transparency International Pakistan (TIP) has urged Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to notify the Alternative Medicine Rules 2026.
- The rules, approved by the Federal Cabinet over a month ago, have remained pending for more than six months.
- TIP called for a formal inquiry into alleged obstacles created by influential interest groups in the alternative medicine sector.
Transparency International Pakistan (TIP) has called on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to take immediate action to notify the Alternative Medicine Rules 2026, which have been approved by the Federal Cabinet but remain unimplemented for over six months.
In a letter to the prime minister, TIP highlighted the need for the rules to be notified to ensure a transparent and accountable system for licensing and registering alternative medicines and health products across the country.
The proposed rules, drafted by the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) under the DRAP Act 2012, aim to bring the alternative medicine and health products market under a structured regulatory framework.
TIP expressed concerns that the continued delays are undermining efforts to regulate the sector, which has significant economic potential, attracting new investment and generating employment opportunities.
The organization also called for a formal inquiry into allegations that influential interest groups in the alternative medicine sector are deliberately creating obstacles to the implementation of the rules.
TIP asked the prime minister to direct the immediate notification of the Alternative Medicine Rules 2026 and instruct DRAP to begin the official registration process within 30 days.
The organization emphasized the importance of swift action to ensure the sector operates under a clear regulatory framework, protecting consumers and promoting transparency.
