Mirza warns against overpricing of Covid drugs
Says DRAP will take action against profiteers
State Minister for Health Dr Zafar Mirza says the medicines will be distributed among critically ill patients through a robust mechanism. SCREENGRAB
ISLAMABAD:
State Minister for Health Dr Zafar Mirza took stern notice of the shortage and hike in the price of injections used by coronavirus patients, directing the authorities concerned to take strict action against the profiteers.
Chairing a meeting on the issue on Saturday, Mirza warned of legal action against those who sold drugs at exorbitant prices, as the “government is making sure that Tocilizumab (Actemra) and Remedesivir injections are available for the management of Covid-19 patients”.
“These medicines will be distributed among critically ill patients through a robust mechanism to meet the needs of various hospitals,” Mirza said, adding that overcharging of the Actemra injection would not be allowed.
“Taking cognisance of reports of short supply of these two injections, we took immediate action and after extensive efforts, there is an improvement in availability status of the Tocilizumab injection,” he said, adding that the approved maximum retail price for Actemra 80mg injection is Rs11,952 per vial whereas Rs29,882 for Actemra 200mg injection vial and Rs59,764 for Actemra 400mg vial.
Mirza vowed to take strict action against elements involved in overcharging or black marketing of life-saving drugs in accordance with DRAP Act 2012.
Violators of 'selective lockdown' will be dealt with iron fist, warns PM Imran
He urged the public to inform Drap on 0800-03727 in case they had been overcharged for Actemra injection.
He added that directions have been issued to the National Task Force on Eradication of Spurious and Sub-standard drugs to apprehend black marketers and elements over-charging on approved prices of Tocilizumab injection.
Tocilizumab injection is a humanised monoclonal antibody that is ordinarily used as an immune suppressant agent in rheumatoid arthritis.
The National Clinical Management Guidelines have included it for use in treatment of critically ill patients of Covid-19 who have Cytokine Release Storm (a condition which a subset of critically ill Covid patients can develop and is established through certain laboratory tests).
However, its availability remained an issue as it was being imported from Japan only.
In order to resolve the shortage, Drap has approved import of Tocilizumab injection from United States of America as well.
Multiple consignments of the injection have arrived, however, it will be made available through authorised distributor only.
Hospitals and institutions treating critically ill Covid-19 patients can contact Roche Company on 0304-1111085 for availability of this injection.
Another important medicine, Remdesivir, is a relatively new antiviral medicine recommended for use in moderate to severe disease by Pakistan's National Clinical Management Guidelines and has been shown to shorten the duration of illness.
In the Drug Registration Board meeting held from June 8 to 11, two importers and 12 local manufacturers of Remedesivir have been approved for market authorisation.
Former premier Yousuf Raza Gilani tests positive for Covid-19
The approvals would allow larger quantities to be made available. After the approval of medicines for emergency registration, Drug Pricing Committee of Drap held an emergency meeting on Mirza’s request to fix maximum price for Remedesvir, a statutory requirement in accordance with Drug Pricing Policy 2018, and will be soon approved by the federal government.
Information regarding Remedesivir registration status can be obtained from Drap.
The government of Pakistan is also planning to import and provide these lifesaving medicines for the patients who cannot afford these medicines as "we consider this the State's responsibility", said Mirza. To remove any confusion it is important to clarify that until now importers were bringing very limited number of Remdesivir vials on individual patient-needs base which is a special arrangement under drug law. But after the recent approvals now importers will be able to import relatively large quantities which will enable us to overcome any shortage.
With input from APP
State Minister for Health Dr Zafar Mirza took stern notice of the shortage and hike in the price of injections used by coronavirus patients, directing the authorities concerned to take strict action against the profiteers.
Chairing a meeting on the issue on Saturday, Mirza warned of legal action against those who sold drugs at exorbitant prices, as the “government is making sure that Tocilizumab (Actemra) and Remedesivir injections are available for the management of Covid-19 patients”.
“These medicines will be distributed among critically ill patients through a robust mechanism to meet the needs of various hospitals,” Mirza said, adding that overcharging of the Actemra injection would not be allowed.
“Taking cognisance of reports of short supply of these two injections, we took immediate action and after extensive efforts, there is an improvement in availability status of the Tocilizumab injection,” he said, adding that the approved maximum retail price for Actemra 80mg injection is Rs11,952 per vial whereas Rs29,882 for Actemra 200mg injection vial and Rs59,764 for Actemra 400mg vial.
Mirza vowed to take strict action against elements involved in overcharging or black marketing of life-saving drugs in accordance with DRAP Act 2012.
Violators of 'selective lockdown' will be dealt with iron fist, warns PM Imran
He urged the public to inform Drap on 0800-03727 in case they had been overcharged for Actemra injection.
He added that directions have been issued to the National Task Force on Eradication of Spurious and Sub-standard drugs to apprehend black marketers and elements over-charging on approved prices of Tocilizumab injection.
Tocilizumab injection is a humanised monoclonal antibody that is ordinarily used as an immune suppressant agent in rheumatoid arthritis.
The National Clinical Management Guidelines have included it for use in treatment of critically ill patients of Covid-19 who have Cytokine Release Storm (a condition which a subset of critically ill Covid patients can develop and is established through certain laboratory tests).
However, its availability remained an issue as it was being imported from Japan only.
In order to resolve the shortage, Drap has approved import of Tocilizumab injection from United States of America as well.
Multiple consignments of the injection have arrived, however, it will be made available through authorised distributor only.
Hospitals and institutions treating critically ill Covid-19 patients can contact Roche Company on 0304-1111085 for availability of this injection.
Another important medicine, Remdesivir, is a relatively new antiviral medicine recommended for use in moderate to severe disease by Pakistan's National Clinical Management Guidelines and has been shown to shorten the duration of illness.
In the Drug Registration Board meeting held from June 8 to 11, two importers and 12 local manufacturers of Remedesivir have been approved for market authorisation.
Former premier Yousuf Raza Gilani tests positive for Covid-19
The approvals would allow larger quantities to be made available. After the approval of medicines for emergency registration, Drug Pricing Committee of Drap held an emergency meeting on Mirza’s request to fix maximum price for Remedesvir, a statutory requirement in accordance with Drug Pricing Policy 2018, and will be soon approved by the federal government.
Information regarding Remedesivir registration status can be obtained from Drap.
The government of Pakistan is also planning to import and provide these lifesaving medicines for the patients who cannot afford these medicines as "we consider this the State's responsibility", said Mirza. To remove any confusion it is important to clarify that until now importers were bringing very limited number of Remdesivir vials on individual patient-needs base which is a special arrangement under drug law. But after the recent approvals now importers will be able to import relatively large quantities which will enable us to overcome any shortage.
With input from APP