ECC expected to approve raise in prices of 150 drugs

The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet is expected to approve an increase in the prices of 150 medicines and decrease in the rates of 20 drugs.

The committee, which will meet under the chairmanship of Finance Minister Ishaq Dar on Friday (today) will mull over a 10-point agenda.

The ECC will sanction subsidy on wheat for Gilgit-Baltistan and review Kamyab Pakistan Programme summary.

According to a copy of the ECC agenda available with the Express News, the meeting will review five summaries submitted by the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination on drug prices.

In the first summary, the meeting will review rise in the price of paracetamol.

The huddle will consider approving the maximum retail price of 18 new drugs on the recommendation of the Drug Pricing Committee (DPC). The maximum retail prices of these 18 drugs were recommended by the DPC in the meeting on December 29, 2022.

Similarly, another summary presented by the Ministry of National Health to determine the maximum price of 119 medicines will also be reviewed.

The agenda stated that in light of the recommendations forwarded during the 52nd meeting of the DPC, the ECC would mull over increasing the prices of four drugs under the hardship category.

Meanwhile, in the wake of proposals advanced during the 53rd meeting of the DPC, the committee will have a detailed review of the summary on the reduction in the retail price of 20 medicines.

The meeting will also sanction technical supplementary grant for the Prime Minister's Office.