Govt rejects unjustified drug price hikes

Minister directs authorities to advance pending pricing cases

ISLAMABAD:

Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Cheema has stressed that public interest must remain paramount in determining medicine prices, warning that unjustified increases without valid reasons would not be acceptable.

He also directed officials to move forward with pending drug pricing cases as the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) reviews the existing pricing formula.

He was chairing a meeting on DRAP-related matters in Islamabad on Monday, attended by Federal Minister Dr Musadik Malik, Health Secretary Momin Agha, DRAP Chief Executive Officer Dr Obaidullah and other officials.

The meeting reviewed pending cases concerning medicine prices, the existing pricing mechanism and progress on their assessment.

DRAP officials briefed the meeting that the individual review of pending cases was almost complete. Cheema directed the relevant authorities to advance these cases for further action and praised Dr Musadik Malik and DRAP officials for their efforts in reviewing them.

The meeting was also informed that the World Health Organisation (WHO)-recommended trivalent influenza vaccine was available in sufficient quantities in the market.

Officials said a hardship case concerning the vaccine had been withdrawn after prices in the international market were brought under control.

Reiterating the government's position on medicine prices, Cheema said public interest should remain the foremost consideration and that increases without legitimate justification would not be tolerated.

The meeting was further informed that DRAP was reviewing the existing formula used to determine medicine prices. Cheema said the government did not want to introduce any changes to the formula that could have adverse effects on the pharmaceutical sector.