Pharmaceutical firms defy directives to cut prices

DRAP CEO says 15 pharmaceutical companies have moved courts instead of cutting down the prices of their medicines

ISLAMABAD: The CEO of Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) Asim Rauf has stated that 15 pharmaceutical companies have moved courts instead of cutting down the prices of their medicines as per government’s directions.

The prices of the medicines could not be brought back to normal even after the orders of the prime minister, he told the National Assembly Sub-Committee on Health meeting held on Tuesday with Convener Nisar Cheema in the chair.

During the session, the representatives of pharmaceutical companies refused to give briefing on the prices of medicines.

Such is the power of the drugs manufacturers that the Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association even declined to attend the committee meeting.

Briefing the meeting, Drap officials said that the prices of medicines could not go down despite the Prime Minister Imran Khan's order. They said that 15 companies have obtained a stay order from the Sindh High Court. MNA Ramesh Lal said that various private medical stores in Islamabad are looting the people but the Islamabad administration is not paying attention. He asked for action against such medical stores.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 4^th, 2019.