Garowe, May 31^st (PUNTIN) - Puntland State government of Somalia passes a bill on the regulation of the health services rendered by the Private sector. As a result of the civil war, Somalia's public service collapsed to a point of no return. The much-needed health services were the worst affected. The hospitals were ransacked and converted to shelters for the displaced people. The Health workers fled the chaos and ended up outside the country,

This situation was exploited by the business people who, due to the high demand for medical drugs and health services, filled the gap as part of their commercial activities. Drugstores sprung up in every corner run by people who had not even had a proper schooling. Due to the greed of the businessmen and the absence of any government regulations, these so-called drugstores had stocked and sold expired medicines.

Responding to this situation, the Puntland State government passed a set of regulations on the private health services. The text of these regulations are as under: 

PUNTLAND HEALTH REGULATIONS.

Permissions issued by the Ministry.

1^st ARTICLE

Pharmacies.

This article enumerates conditions obligatory for opening a pharmacy. For community safety, it is important for any new pharmacy to be in conformity to the following regulations. 

1.      Pharmacies can be opened in Puntland State after the permissions received from Ministry of Social Affairs. After acquiring this lincense, another certificate should be issued by the Ministry of Interior Affairs.

2. Any organization, association, company or individuals can activate pharmacies in Puntland State after they receive Business permission from authorized ministry. If they are willing to comply with the rules and regulation of Puntland State and International Health rules.
3. Pharmacies can only be opened in specified location authorized by the Ministry where the distance of the nearest pharmacy is determined by nominated committee.
4. The room of the pharmacy should have at least one door, two windows and airflows. The height and the width of the room must be hygienically suitable for a Pharmacy.
5. The medicine in the pharmacies should have been inspected. The medicine should be only for human being, registered in the Ministry of Social Affairs �Health Section.
6. If the pharmacy sells drugs known Reagent, like Insulin, Sierra Anti, Tetanus etc. they should be in a refrigerator to protect the high temperature.
7. The remaining period of the expiry date should be possible for proper usage.
8. It is prohibited to sell drugs other than for human being or any drug produced without registration. It is prohibited to sell in pharmacies animal drugs and traditional drugs.
9. Pharmacists can�t sell drugs without doctor prescription. Anyone sells without prescription will be responsible for any consequence caused by this drug.
10. A pharmacy can�t sell drugs unless qualified personnel.
11. Pharmacy entrepreneurs should summit updated CV with testimonials of the qualified personnel who will work in the pharmacy.
12. There should be piped water inside the pharmacy with soup and towel for hand wash. There should be a covered garbage tin and appropriate sanitation.
13. There should be a board shown the name of the Pharmacy.
14. After the pharmacist receives the permission. They should write commitment letter certifies that pharmacist will obey rules and regulation.
15. After the pharmacist receives the permission from the Ministry of Health and he/she pays fees. He/she will request certificate from the Ministry Interior Affairs. 

Second Section.

Permissions for Private Clinic.

1. At the opening of new Clinic, there should be permission from the Ministry of Social Affairs � Health Section. The ministry of Interior Affairs should issue certificate.
2. The Doctor who will work the clinic should be graduated from recognized University. He/she will attach summarized curriculum vitae with the request of the clinic. The Ministry will insure the qualifications of the Doctor.
3. Doctors requesting for new clinics should be qualified and experienced.
4. Doctors who will work in Clinics should have all required materials and equipments.
5. Doctors will only practice for their specialization.
6. There should be full patient registration.
7. Doctors who work such this clinics should summit a monthly report to the nearest Office of the Ministry of Social Affairs.
8. There should be piped water inside the Clinic with soup and towel for hand wash. There should be a covered garbage tin and appropriate sanitation.
9. In font of the Clinic, there should be a board shows the name of the doctor and his/her specialization. There should be a light in the nighttime.
10. Doctors should write their prescriptions on special paper and have laboratory paper and stamp. 

Third section

Conditions for controlling imported drugs.

Imported drugs should be controlled. These rules and regulations should be followed to control the quality of the drugs and to protect the community.

1. A businessman who interests to import drugs should have clearance letter from the Ministry.
2. The country of origin and factory of the drugs should be certified.
3. It should be certified that the drugs are only for human being, based on standards of international regulations. (IDA)
4. The imported drugs should be before two years of expiry.
5. The imported drugs should have instructions and compositions.
6. Before entry of the drugs into the country, it should be registered in the Ministry. The sample of the drugs should be brought into Ministry.
7. Imported drugs can�t be distributed unless tested and permitted by the Ministry. 

Fourth section

Conditions of Local NGOs 

To supervise and control any one who interests community health, the Ministry of Social Affairs issues the following Rules and Regulations.

1. Any one who initiates NGOs for health concerns should have a permission issued by the Ministry of Social Affairs. Another certificate from the Ministry of Interior affairs is required.
2. Any one who initiates NGOs for health concerns should summit original NGO�s memorandum, the objectives and chart of the organization to the Ministry. The objectives of the NGO should indicate that it is humanitarian and not concerned for Politics.
3. The capital and assets of the NGO should be listed. The NGO shouldn�t be only Projects and documents for begging donors and International Organizations.
4. So far, the NGO is Health Concerns. While requesting permission, it should attach the targets and strategies of the Organization.
5. The NGO must be obeying the health policies of Puntland State.
6. The NGOs must summit a report for every three months.
7. The NGO must write a confirmation letter for compliance with International health treaties and Puntland Policies. The NGO must take responsibity for difficulties caused by its operation.
8. The NGO must summit two photos of every member of the executive committee particularly whose signatures are significant.
9. After all requirements are met. The NGO should take permission of Health Section of the Ministry of Social Affairs and the certificate of Ministry of Interior Affairs.

5^TH ARTICLE

Conditions of the alien Doctor.

To supervise and control any one who interests community health, alien doctors can operate in Puntland State after they fill the following Rules and Regulations.

1. The Doctor should be qualified and graduated from recognized University.
2. In his/her specializations, there should be qualifications and testimonials.
3. The Doctor will be interviewed by Health Professional Committee nominated by the Ministry.
4. The Doctor should promise by a written document that he/she would preserve the religion, constitution and Puntland Health Policies.
5. The Doctor should pay any charges imposed by the law. 

6^TH ARTICLE

Conditions of the Private Midwives.

1. Anyone who aims to open Midwife Center should have permission from the Ministry of Social Affairs - Health Section.
2. Midwives should be qualified assistances with certificate of recognized Institute or University.
3. The center should have technical equipment and materials like beds and anti-bacteria.
4. The Center should have the following items; registration, permanent water, good sanitation and board for the name of the Center.
5. The Center should provide immunizations such BCG.
6. The Center should report monthly to the nearest Office.
7. The Center should pay the charge of license. A certificate should be issued by the Ministry of Interior Affairs. 

7^TH ARTICLE

Conditions of Private Laboratory.

1. A person who opens laboratory center should have permission from the Ministry of Social Affairs - Health Section.
2. The laboratory personnel should be skilled.
3. The Center should have refrigerator for chemical storage.
4. The Center should have laboratory and answer papers.
5. The Center should report monthly to the nearest Office.
6. The Center should pay the charge of the permission and after that, it should get certificate from the Ministry of Interior Affairs. 

8^TH ARTICLE

Fixed charge of health service.

The Ministry of Social Affairs plans strategies to help Private Health Centers to operate smoothly and serve for the community. Considering Health Services are very significant and community participation is highly required.

Having aware of that in the world today there are no free health facilities. The continuation of health services is crucial if international assistance is missed. The ministry recommends to the Government and Council representatives to impose small charge (Cost Recovery System) to Governmental Health Centers, which is far less than the charge of Private Health Centers. 

9^TH ARTICLE

Obligatory charges for private activities permitted by the Ministry.

The Ministry of Social Affairs, health section accomplishes the three-year project which incentives the private sectors that is approved by Council reprehensive.

The charge will take effect after the operation is specified. This was approved by the Ministry of Social Affairs. 

1. Private Pharmacies will obey requirement for clearance letter and will pay 500,000 at one time.
2. Private Health Center owned by local Doctor will pay 800,000 at one payment, after complying with the rules and regulations for issuing the permission letter by the Ministry.
3. Private Health Center owned by alien Doctor would pay $1000 at one payment, after obeying the rules and regulations for issuing the permission letter by the Ministry.
4. Private Midwife Center will pay charge of 200,000 at one payment, after complying with the rules and regulations for issuing the permission letter by the Ministry.
5. Authorized Private laboratory will pay charge of 600,000 at one payment.

A businessman who imports medicine or health equipment will pay 1500,00 for each trip after complying the rules and regulations for issuing the permission letter by the Ministry. 

10^TH ARTICLE

The duties of the ministry and other ministries.

The Ministry of Social Affairs, Section of Health issues the following articles after complying with regulations of job descriptions of the Ministries approved by the Government Council and Council representatives and signed by the President.

1.      The Local Government can�t issue permissions for Private Health Center unless authorized by the Ministry of Social Affairs, health section. The responsibility of health section is to issue permissions for private health centers.

2. Finance Institutions of the Government should stop payment for patients to dispatch abroad. Most of these patients can be treated in the Country while they expend a lot of hard currency. In addition, this humiliates the local doctors who have enough qualifications and experience. We have enough equipment those our neighbors couldn�t have. The Ministry of Social Affairs � health section organized a committee of multi-specialized doctors to determine who can be treated in or not.

11^TH ARTICLE

Prohibition of the activities against Social Health

The Ministry of Social Affairs � Health section fulfills its mandatory of preservation of Social Health and protecting activities against Social Health of Punltand State. The Ministry submitted measures of prohibiting the following behavior of article 27^th.

A.     Prohibition of Fironi Circumcision (PFC): - Having seen the harms of Fironi Circumcision to the life and health of women with no religious obligatory. To salvage the health of women and to eliminate the practice of this conduct. The Ministry has prohibited the practice of Fironi Circumcision. Any person who practices or motivates the fironi circumcision will face legal penalties.

2. Prohibition of Illegal Abortion.

The ministry prohibited abortion unless health safety measures approved by three doctors. Any person who organizes or practices abortion will face legal penalties. 

3. Prohibition of suicides.

It is prohibited to commit suicides, like drinking poison, hanging etc. however, in most case, if the person is brought in Health Centers and rescued. The Health staff is requested to inform to the Police Stations to penalize guilty person.

4. Prohibition of expired drinks and Food.

The expired products, food and drinks are prohibited to import and enter in Puntland State. If the expired items are found, they should be discarded. The owner of the product will face penalties. If expired products are seen on the markets, the staff and managers of the customs, which those products passed, will face proper penalties.

5. It is prohibited to give doses of drugs not prescribed by the specialized doctor. Other wise, the seller will be responsible for any side affects caused by this drug and he/she will face legal penalties.
6. Prohibition of self-styled Doctors.

Qualified Doctors, Nurses and Midwives can only work Health Centers. Those regards themselves doctors, nurses with no qualifications (like, Doctor, Nurse or Midwife) will face legal penalties.

12^th Article

Any rules conflict these regulations were cancelled.

13^th Article

These regulations take effect after approved by Council representatives and the signature of the President. This will issue for formal distribution.

Regards

President of Puntland State

 Abdulahi Yusuf Ahmed