Saturday January 3, 2026
Mogadishu (HOL) — Somalia’s lower house of parliament on Saturday approved the Medicine Bill, a key piece of health legislation aimed at regulating pharmaceuticals, as lawmakers said the measure comes at a critical moment 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 objections, according to parliamentary officials. A total of 142 members were present, meeting the required quorum.
Before the vote, the committee presented the final draft to lawmakers and called for debate, allowing members to review the provisions ahead of approval.
Health Minister Dr. Ali Haji Aden welcomed the vote, thanking lawmakers for backing the bill at what he described as a time of pressing need for Somalia’s health system. Nadra Salah Abdi, chairperson of the Social Service Development Committee, echoed that sentiment, saying the law would strengthen oversight of medicines and help protect patients from unsafe or counterfeit drugs.
Somalia’s pharmaceutical sector has long faced weak regulation, with concerns over unlicensed imports and poor-quality medicines circulating in markets across the country.
In a separate discussion during the same session, lawmakers debated the Convention on Tobacco Control, focusing on the health and social impact of tobacco use, particularly among young people. Members highlighted the need for a unified national policy to curb tobacco consumption and address its long-term consequences for public health.
The discussions reflect growing parliamentary attention to health legislation as Somalia works to rebuild state institutions and improve access to basic services after decades of conflict and regulatory collapse.