Serious questions have been raised over the State’s pharmaceutical approval process after an enquiry heard that 365 pharmaceuticals were registered, but there was only one recorded instance of the Drug Advisory Committee (DAC) being involved.

The issue surfaced during the 12th meeting of Public Administration and Appropriations Committee (PAAC) yesterday, which examined the State’s acquisition of pharmaceuticals and the processes governing their importation and approval.

It was also revealed the National Insurance Property Development Company Ltd (Nipdec) applied for special permission to import pharmaceuticals on 27 occasions despite officials maintaining that the State procurement agency is not a direct importer of medicines.