MEDICINES BILL (As reported from Select Committee)

Order for Third Reading read.

7.31 p.m.

The Minister for Health (Dr Toh Chin Chye): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Third time."

Members of the House would have read the official report of the Select Committee and the reasons for the proposed amendments.

In summary, the submissions received by the Committee generally reflect that the Bill is acceptable to those who have a vested interest in its provisions - those who deal in traditional Chinese medicinal preparations and those dealing in western type medicinal preparations. The representations made, as Members will note, are for fear that rules or regulations, if applied rigidly, will cause difficulty to the trade. The fear has also been expressed that the fees imposed may be so high as to cause financial difficulty.

I would like to reiterate that the purpose of the Bill is not to stifle trade by rigid implementation, neither is it the Government's intention to increase revenue by such a legislation. Because patent or ready-made medicinal preparations are easily available from shops and even sarabat stalls, it is necessary that the consumer be protected by ensuring that the contents of such medicinal preparations conform to standards of safety, efficacy and reliability, particularly when many patent medicinal preparations can be bought without a doctor's prescription.

In this connection the World Health Assembly at its last sitting has called upon member-states to participate in a certification scheme for the quality control of pharmaceutical products moving in international commerce. My Ministry is taking action to participate in such a scheme as well as looking into applying the revised requirements for good practices in the manufacture and quality control of drugs as formulated in the report to the Director-General of the World Health Organisation. Such a practice on an international approach will no doubt ensure that those who manufacture medicinal products for international trade conform with international standards of manufacturing, hire properly trained personnel and meet other requirements, such as properly built premises and storage areas as well as equipment which are of a reasonable standard that will ensure that the consumer is given a fair deal. Conforming with agreed international standards locally will mean that Singapore manufactured medicinal products will be able to find international outlets as well.

The major amendment to the Bill is the inclusion of the Minister for National Development as the Minister who will be responsible for performing functions relevant to veterinary medicinal products. As a consequence the Director of Primary Production will be responsible for the licensing of veterinary medicinal products. The powers that are conferred upon the Minister for National Development or the Director of Primary Production in the Bill will complement powers that have been vested in them under the provision of the Animals and Birds Act. This, however, does not mean that my Ministry and the Ministry of National Development will work separately, Where there are common areas of interest the two Ministries will be working together in close liaison. Section 73 of the Act empowers the Minister for Health to establish committees which will comprise persons who will be invited for their expertise they possess. Such cooperation is necessary so that veterinary medicinal products consumed by animals do not contaminate or cause adverse effects on human beings when they are slaughtered for table meat.

The other related consequential amendments in addition to this major amendment are the inclusion of the definitions of veterinary medicinal products, veterinary surgeon, veterinary centre and veterinary biologics.

The amendments to section 39 are necessary so as to restrict the use of the title "dispensary" to only pharmacists, doctors and veterinary surgeons, in other words, persons who have been properly trained and qualified. This is to prevent the abuse of the titles. This is also in conformity with the provisions of the Pharmacist Registration Act which contains similar provisions.

Section 74 has also been amended to include the word "storage or supply" so that premises other than pharmacies which sell, supply or store medicinal products can also be brought within the ambit of this Bill. As it stands, section 74 only provides for the registration of premises other than pharmacies but are used for the retail sale of medicinal products.

Sir, I beg to move.

Question put, and agreed to.

Bill accordingly read a Third time and passed.