About The Bill

The Somali House of the People of the 11th Federal Parliament of Somalia has formally approved the Medicines Bill (Hindise-Sharciyeedka Daawada) during its 25th sitting of the 7th Plenary Session, held in early January 2026. The approval was conducted in accordance with Article 69(1)(a) of the Provisional Constitution of the Federal Republic of Somalia, following the completion of all required legislative procedures. The session proceeded with a confirmed quorum of 142 Members of Parliament, ensuring the legality and validity of the parliamentary decision.

Members of Somali civil society organizations, under the Somalia Non-State Actors (SONSA) and through the GoleKaab Project, attended the sitting as observers. Their presence was in line with their mandate to monitor transparency, procedural integrity, and parliamentary proceedings, thereby reinforcing democratic accountability within the legislative process.

The session was chaired by the First Deputy Speaker, Sa’dia Salad Samatar. The agenda included the third reading and final voting of the Medicines Bill. Following deliberations, the House approved the Bill by an overwhelming majority, with 141 Members voting in favor, no votes against, and one abstention. The Bill was subsequently endorsed by the House leadership and transmitted to the Upper House (Aqalka Sare) in line with Article 82(1)(a) of the Provisional Constitution, marking the next constitutional step toward its enactment.

The Medicines Bill was originally developed and submitted by the Ministry of Health and Human Services following extensive technical reviews and broad stakeholder consultations. The Ministry formally submitted the draft Bill to the Council of Ministers in January 2024, where it underwent comprehensive policy and legal scrutiny. The Council of Ministers approved the Bill on 21 February 2024, after which it was forwarded to the House of the People through the Office of the Prime Minister. This timeline reflects the completion of mandatory executive-level reviews, inter-ministerial coordination, and constitutional procedures prior to parliamentary consideration.

A central objective of the Medicines Bill is the establishment of the Somalia Medicines and Health Products Regulatory Authority (SoMHPRA), an autonomous regulatory body mandated to oversee the safety, quality, effectiveness, registration, importation, distribution, and market surveillance of medicines and health products across Somalia. The Bill introduces a comprehensive legal framework for regulating pharmaceuticals, medical devices, biological products, herbal medicines, food supplements, and other health-related products.

The Bill further sets out detailed provisions on licensing, inspection, pharmacovigilance, market authorization, clinical trials oversight, and enforcement mechanisms, aimed at preventing the circulation of counterfeit and substandard medicines while strengthening public health protection. It also clarifies institutional governance arrangements, financial management systems, accountability mechanisms, and coordination between federal and member-state authorities, thereby reinforcing Somalia’s national regulatory capacity.

By approving the Medicines Bill, the House of the People has taken a significant step toward strengthening public health governance, enhancing consumer protection, and aligning Somalia’s pharmaceutical regulatory system with regional and international standards. The Bill is widely regarded as a cornerstone reform for safeguarding the health, safety, and well-being of the Somali population, while supporting long-term institutional development in the health sector.

For more detailed information on the House of the People of the Federal Parliament of Somalia Approves Medicines Bill During 25th Sitting of the 7th Plenary Session please download the document here.