KINGSTON, Jamaica. Tuesday, June 10, 2025: Members of the public are set to benefit from improved service delivery when processing applications for pharmaceutical approvals, as the Standards and Regulation Division overhauls its operating procedures to optimise processes and increase customer satisfaction.
The announcement came during the Sectoral Presentation of the Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, MP, in Tuesday’s (June 10, 2025) sitting of Parliament.
“Manufacturers and importers have long complained about the long delays in getting a final response to their applications for drugs. There are several reasons for these delays, which are not always the fault of the Standards and Regulation Division. However, our lack of clarity and sometimes inefficiency in responding does create a credibility gap between the agency and the applicants. We have to fix this,” the Minister said.
Among the functions of the Standards and Regulations Division is the approval and processing of permits for the importation and registration of pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, chemicals, medical devices, and natural health products.
The Minister has revealed that three major policy shifts are to take place over the next year, including establishing a protocol for collaboration with the United States, the United Kingdom and European standards in drug approvals.
“This means applicants who have already met these standards will be placed on a fast track for approvals, once they submit the appropriate documents,” Dr. Tufton said.
“We will also move to digitise the application process so that applicants will not need to wait for a response to determine the incomplete nature of their application as these will be flagged in the online application while filling out forms. Currently 80% of dossiers submitted are delayed due to incomplete information. Applicants must play their part in ensuring that the system works more efficiently,” the Minister added.
An express window is also to be established for local manufacturers who apply for approvals once they are manufacturing locally for the local and export markets.
The impending policy shifts are tied to the Ministry’s strategic goals for the modernisation and improvement in customer service experience. In 2023, the Pharmacy and Regulatory Affairs Branch of the Standards and Regulations Division achieved ISO 9001 Certification , the benchmark of international standard in quality and service.