The enacting of the National Medicines Regulatory Bill was deferred yesterday to incorporate some amendments while it was assured that the legislation would be enacted on Friday (6).

Health and Indigenous Medicine Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne notified the decision to defer the enacting when the Deputy Speaker Chanduma Weerakodi called for it at the end of the second reading debate on the bill last evening (4).

Dr. Senaratne said a decision was made to defer as there were some issues to be discussed before planning the legislature. This was followed by a request made by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake that more time is needed to discuss the Bill and make necessary amendments.

A legislature is put to the vote or passed unanimously after the third reading according to usual procedures of the House.

The National Medicines Regulatory Bill makes provisions to set up the National Medicines Regulatory authority which shall be responsible for the regulation and control of registration, licensing, manufacture, importation and other aspects pertaining to medicines, medical devices, and borderline products.

The National Medicines Regulatory authority includes the Director General Health Services, Secretary to Treasury, Chief Executive Officer appointed under section 15 of the Bill and members appointed by the Minister who should be ones representing professional bodies in general medicines, general surgery, pediatrics, gynecology and obstetrics, professor of pharmacology, a senior lecturer in the same field and four others from fields of management, law, accountancy or health.(Yohan Perera and Kelum Bandara)