Drugs prices raised to ensure their availability: PM’s aide

Says these medicines had become short in the market

ISLAMABAD:

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Health Dr Faisal Sultan on Thursday maintained that the prices of 94 life-saving drugs had been increased in order to ensure their availability in the market.

Speaking to the media, the PM’s aide observed that the medicines which witnessed a raise "are low-priced life-saving drugs and those with old formulas".

"These medicines had become unavailable due to a lack of adequate raise in their prices and ended up being sold on the black market," he said.

"It was important to ensure that the prices of medicines are affordable for everyone," he added, noting that drugs available at higher prices earlier due to black marketing will now be readily available.

He reiterated that the job of the government and Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (Drap) was to ensure the availability of medicines for everyone in the country.

He observed that the prices of life-saving drugs had to be jacked up slightly, "just enough to make sure they are available to the common people".

Responding to a question whether the federal government had given in to the drugs manufacturers demands, he said: "We did not bow down to the pressure from pharmaceutical companies”.

The SAPM declared that a list of medicines that had become costlier would be posted on the website.

"We are working on a new pricing policy," he explained, adding that the government was introducing reforms in all health institutions.

The federal government approved a hike in the prices of 94 local and imported life-saving drugs, a notification issued on Thursday stated.

According to the notification, the prices of these medicines had been increased by at least 9% and as much as by 262%.

Out of the total 94 medicines, 68 are locally manufactured while 26 are imported and are used to treat fever, headache, cardiovascular diseases, malaria, diabetes, sore throat, flu, stomachache, skin diseases, postpartum issues, and eye, ear, tooth, mouth, and blood infections, and also include a few antibiotics.

The notification said that the prices of these medicines had been increased as they had become short in the market, a rise in the value of the dollar and costlier raw materials used in the manufacturing of these drugs.

However, it added that the pharmaceutical companies would not be allowed to raise prices further until June 2021.