Federal Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal announced on Monday that every medicine sold in Pakistan will carry a barcode within the next three months. This should allow buyers to verify the authenticity, expiration date, and other key information of medicines by scanning the barcode with their mobile phones.
Kamal stated that while the government is fully prepared, the pharmaceutical industry has requested a three-month period to comply with the new regulation.
In response to new polio cases detected among children over five years old, the government has decided to expand the age bracket for polio vaccinations to include children up to 15 years of age. The development will begin in Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, and parts of southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).
The new national deadline for the complete eradication of polio from Pakistan has been set for December 2026.
The health minister revealed significant changes for the upcoming national health policy, which is expected to be approved by the Prime Minister soon. As part of broader reforms, the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) will undergo full digitalization. The Prime Minister is scheduled to inaugurate the project within a week.
Kamal proposed a 50% tax on sugary drinks due to public health concerns, but the recommendation was not accepted by the federal government.
The minister also shared that the entire legal framework of the Nursing Council is being revised to address Pakistan’s shortage of nursing professionals. The country currently requires 900,000 nurses domestically, while global demand is estimated at 2.5 million.
He further highlighted that one person dies from a heart attack every minute in Pakistan, underlining the urgent need for preventive health measures.
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