By HAN News Desk
MOGADISHU — Somalia’s lower house of parliament on Saturday approved the Medicine Bill, a landmark piece of health legislation aimed at regulating the importation, distribution and sale of pharmaceuticals, as lawmakers said the measure comes at a critical time for public health in the country.
The bill was passed during the House of the People’s 25th meeting of its seventh session, with 141 lawmakers voting in favor, one abstention and no votes against, according to parliamentary officials. A total of 142 members were present, meeting the required quorum.
The session was chaired by First Deputy Speaker Saadiya Yasin Haji Samatar and focused on the bill’s third reading and final vote. The legislation was drafted by the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and reviewed by the House’s Social Service Development Committee.
Before the vote, the committee presented the final version of the bill to lawmakers and opened the floor for discussion, allowing members to review its provisions and raise concerns before approval.
Health Minister Dr. Ali Haji Aden welcomed the passage of the bill, thanking lawmakers for their support and describing the legislation as essential for protecting public health. He said the new law would provide a legal framework for regulating medicines, licensing pharmaceutical businesses and strengthening oversight of imports and distribution.
Nadra Salah Abdi, chairperson of the Social Service Development Committee, said the law would help curb the circulation of counterfeit, substandard and expired medicines, which have posed serious risks to patients for years. She added that the bill empowers authorities to enforce quality standards and hold violators accountable.
Somalia’s pharmaceutical sector has long suffered from weak regulation following decades of conflict and institutional collapse, allowing unlicensed imports and poor-quality medicines to flood local markets. Health experts say the lack of oversight has undermined trust in the health system and endangered lives.
Once reviewed by the Upper House and signed into law by the president, the Medicine Bill is expected to pave the way for the establishment of stronger regulatory bodies and inspection mechanisms across the country.
In a separate discussion during the same session, lawmakers debated the Convention on Tobacco Control, focusing on the health, social and economic impact of tobacco use, particularly among young people. Members stressed the need for a unified national policy to reduce tobacco consumption and address its long-term consequences for public health.
The debates reflect growing parliamentary attention to health legislation as Somalia works to rebuild state institutions, strengthen regulation and improve access to basic services after decades of conflict.
