Federal govt vows easy access to medicines for all

Dr Mirza says they are working to change DRAP’s outlook

The federal health minister on Monday stated that the government is taking measures whereby every citizen of the country will have access to basic health facilities and medicines.

This was stated by the Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on National Health Services Dr Zafar Mirza on Monday while addressing participants of the Health and Population Think Tank meeting. The meeting had been organised by the Health Services Academy. The theme of the meeting was access to medicines.

Representatives of provincial governments, federal agencies, ministries, international organisations, donors, industry and civil society were in attendance.

Dr Mirza stated that ensuring access to medicines is one of the top priorities of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) led government and that his ministry was taking measures in this regard to make sure that the public has access to quality medicines at affordable prices.

He added that the government was strongly resolved to transform the institutional outlook of the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP). He added that they are trying their best to make sure that the public sees a visible change within two years.

“Transparency and merit-based decisions are our top priority and there will be no compromise on it,” he said.

Poor people in developing countries are struggling to access the necessary medicines. Impediments in their way have yet to be fully removed, he said.

Experts and participants discussed different aspects of various strategies regarding access to medicine, including pricing regulations, intellectual property, international trade, medicine procurement and supply-chain issues.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 25^th, 2019.