Madam Speaker, the Pharmacy Board is set up in accordance with Section 3 of the Pharmacy Act, inter-alia, to exercise control over the manufacture, importation, distribution, sale and possession of any drug, poison, dangerous drug and psychotropic substance. The Pharmacy Board comprises – (a) the Chief Medical Officer (now Director General Health Services), as Chairperson; (b) the Chief Government Pharmacist (now Director Pharmaceutical Services); (c) 5 pharmacists appointed by the Minister, and (d) a law officer designated by the Attorney-General. The Act also provides for the Minister of Health to designate a Government Pharmacist to act as Registrar of the Board. On the other hand, the Health Supplements Committee is an ad-hoc committee set up at the level of the Ministry to examine requests for import of health supplements. It comprises the Director of Pharmaceutical Services as Chairperson, one Pharmacist from the Public Sector, three pharmacists from the Private Sector, the Chief Nutritionist and the Director/Deputy Director of Public Health and Food Safety Unit. A Government Pharmacist is designated to act as Secretary to the Committee. With regard to part (a) of the question, Mr B.N. has been appointed as the Registrar of the Pharmacy Board as from 03 March 2026. It is worth pointing out that there was a backlog for registration of some 450 new pharmaceutical products. This was unacceptable as there was a chronic shortage of pharmaceutical products both in the public and private sectors, thus preventing delivery of appropriate healthcare services. There were also several grievances from various stakeholders regarding registration of products and issue of licences for the operation of new pharmacies, among others. To remedy the situation, Mr B.N. was appointed as Registrar of the Pharmacy Board in view of his experience and capacity in dealing with such matters. Since his appointment, the new Registrar has already completed the procedure for the registration of some 60 products by the Pharmacy Board and has planned to complete the registration of the remaining products within a time frame of three months. Madam Speaker, as regards Health Supplements, which are similar to dietary supplements, they are not regulated under any legislation. However, they are assessed administratively by the Health Supplements Committee. Any prospective importer is required to submit the Good Manufacturing Practice Certificates or equivalent documents, Free Sale Certificates and Certificates of Analysis. These documents are scrutinised by the Health Supplement Committee before authorisation for import and marketing are granted. The authorisation is valid for one year and may be renewed following assessment of any modification of the product. Upon arrival of the consignment to Mauritius, the importer had to submit the invoice to the Pharmacy Department of my Ministry. This invoice is examined by a team of pharmacists who authorise the release of the product. The consignment is then subjected to a further visual verification by another pharmacist posted at the port or airport in the presence of Customs and ADSU officers, prior to final release. However, if there is any suspicion that the products may contain prohibited substances, the Customs Department is mandated to detain the products and send them for analysis. I am informed that products containing cannabis and its derivatives are strictly prohibited in Mauritius, except medicinal cannabis. However, morphine and its derivatives, also listed in Schedule II of the Dangerous Drugs Act, are used at hospital level and in private clinics under strict medical surveillance. Such products are registered by the Pharmacy Board and are given special permit for importation by the Pharmacy Board. Madam Speaker, with regard to part (b) of the question, I am informed that no authorisation for importation of health supplements containing cannabis and morphine derivatives have been given either by the Pharmacy Board or the Health Supplement Committee since the appointment of Mr B.N. and Mr D.J. However, I am informed that on 28 January 2026, clearance by the Pharmacy Division of my Ministry for importation of a consignment of homeopathic products, subject to final authorisation by the Customs Department. I am also informed that some products from the consignment have been detained by the Customs as they were suspected of containing cannabis or morphine. The incriminated products have been sent for further analysis to the Forensic Science Laboratory. Appropriate action will be taken in the light of the result of the analysis, including seeking advice from the Attorney General’s Office. Madam Speaker, a distinction should be made between health supplements and homeopathic preparations. Homeopathic preparations are very diluted preparations that are not regulated worldwide except for presence of heavy metals. In fact, homeopathic preparations are made using extreme dilution to the point where the original substance is present only in minute or non-detectable quantities. At such levels, they do not have any drug-like narcotic effect, they cannot cause dependence or misuse, and the original substance cannot be recovered in any meaningful amount. Madam Speaker, even though the preparations are not regulated, my Ministry still applies quality assurance checks before allowing their importation. Any prospective importer has to submit the following documents – • A letter of authorisation from the prescribing doctor; • The reason for the authorisation; • A written undertaking that the products were not for resale; • Good Manufacturing Practice Certificate of its requirement; • A licence to manufacture homeopathic products issued by the drugs licensing authority for the manufacturer of the exporting country; • A Free Sale Certificate; • A Certificate of Analysis; • Certificate of Compliance for the invoice on the manufacturer. These measures that even products outside the scope of Dangerous Drugs Act meet acceptable safety and quality standards. Madam Speaker, my Ministry is also working on the Medical and Health Products Bill which will cater for regulation of all medicines, health supplements as well as homeopathic products, medical devices, in-vitro diagnosis, cosmetics, complementary medicines, blood and blood products alongside existing laws relating to regulation of the products. I am informed that a first draft of the bill which has been prepared by a consultant is being reviewed in consultation with the Attorney General’s Office.

Yes, Dr. Aumeer!

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Can the hon. Minister confirm whether his Ministry has sought information from the Financial Crimes Services in regard to Mr B.N. and Mr D.J. who were interrogated and investigated in the Molnupiravir case, and are now today, despite having the vast and massive experience that we have heard, holding sensitive positions at the Pharmacy Board and at the Health Commission Board?

Yes!

Madam Speaker, this is a fact that these two gentlemen were detained in the previous government on charges, but the court has cleared one. The agency withdrew the case for one of them, and the second was cleared by the court. They have not seen any incriminating case against him. So, all of us know that you are innocent unless you are proven guilty. If I am going to listen to his line of reasoning, even in this very House, we have friends, including me, I was charged with all types of immoral, unethical and illegal cases. So was our hon. Prime Minister! And another gentleman sitting by my side! If I am going to believe in this, it means that all of us are accused then! I do not have the right to be in this House! But the common sense says that so long as you have not been proved guilty by a court of law, you are innocent. Why should I deprive these two gentlemen of their rights when the big bosses are moving up and down the streets, and nothing has happened to them? They were mere pharmacists and they got cleared; one by the court and another one by the very agency which wanted to bring him down. So, my duty, unless and until they proven guilty, they are bound to work in my Ministry. I do not have any problem with that.

Okay, hon. Minister. Yes!

I have listened to the defensive attitude of the hon. Minister with regard…

What defensive? It is the truth! I am speaking the truth! That was the truth.

But the point is…

That was not…

My question is: Did his Ministry ensure that the FCC is either no longer investigating on these two gentlemen or is there still an investigation being carried out? Nonetheless, these two people can act at different levels, but not at a sensitive position where they were involved heavily – and I repeat–, heavily in the Molnupiravir case.

Madam Speaker, it is as simple as that: so long as they have not been charged! Again, tomorrow, there can be a case against A, B, C, D or anybody in my Ministry, of course, actions will be taken. But the very fact that these gentlemen have suffered so much, as far back as 2023, they were cleared, and after two years, after getting clearance from the State Law Office, then we have taken them back. In my Ministry, I need pharmacists and I need people because there is a lack. There is a shortage. Just imagine, 450 products were still pending in order to be registered. I have plenty of problems. Too much of problems. I could not have waited. But one thing is clear: they have been proven innocent. They are innocent. If tomorrow, cases are lodged against them, I will not have any other alternative than to kick them out of the Ministry. That is all I can say!

No. The question, it seems to me, was whether the FCC is still inquiring? So, if I get you right, they are not?

Well, I am not aware of this.

You are not aware?

Because I do not have any contact with the FCC. The only contact I have is with the State Law Office because we have written to them and they have clearly maintained that we can take them back. I am aware, as far as Molnupiravir is concerned, the investigation is going on and there are big bosses who are involved in that. Let the FCC do its work. If they find that these two gentlemen, in one way or another, have to be incriminated, they have done any wrong, then, of course, the law will follow its course.

Okay!

One last question.

One last question!

In a different context, in the light of Government’s commitment to combat drug abuse, what urgent measures his Ministry has taken to implement to ensure that para-pharmaceutical and homeopathic products are systematically tested to prevent any backdoor entry of narcotic or synthetic substances irrespective of the minute amount that we may have, considering that we have a Dangerous Drugs Act in Mauritius?

I repeat it over again: I have mentioned that though these medicines are coming to Mauritius, they do not need any extra certificates. I have mentioned a series of decision that we have taken to ensure that everything is done in the perfect way. At the same time, I have also mentioned that we have just passed the Optical Council Bill. After that, we are having the Medical Council. Thirdly, the Medical and Health Products Bill is coming, which will cater for regulations of all medicines, health supplements as well as homeopathic products, medical devices, in-vitro diagnostic, cosmetics, everything. All these things would be taken care of. I can assure the hon. Member that I am really concerned about it. I will see to it that not a single, a minute mistake be committed as far as the importation of these supplements are concerned.

Thank you. Hon. Ramdass! I am looking here, but you are here! VIEUX GRAND PORT - LA TOUR DES HOLLANDAIS – INAUGURATION