Life-saving drugs become dearer

The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) on Wednesday issued a price hike notification for 25 life-saving drugs, including medicines vital for treating lung and breast cancer as soaring inflation already takes a toll on the lives of the common man.

The price hike extends to essential healthcare items such as antibiotic solutions, inhalers, pain relievers, and injections.

The new pricing structure also impacts medications for diabetes, Leukemia, joint disease, malaria, hepatitis B, and deworming. Blood pressure pills and vascular dilators are not exempt either, as their prices have also been established.

According to the notification, the price of an inhaler for asthma patients has increased to Rs1,390.

A pack of 10 Zerbaxa powder has been set at Rs153,566. Similarly, a pack of 30 Lorviqua 25mg tablets now costs Rs276,857, while the pack of 30 for the 100mg tablet will sell for a whopping Rs846,857.

Furthermore, a pack of seven Ibrance tablets will be sold for Rs74,510 for the 75mg, 100mg and 125 mg variants.
Common medications like Paracetamol have seen a significant price increase too, with a pack of 20 tablets now being sold for a maximum of Rs192.