ISLAMABAD: (Web Desk) Multinational pharmaceutical companies are unable to import influenza vaccines into Pakistan as they await federal cabinet approval of revised prices recommended by the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP).
According to DRAP officials, the proposed price revisions have been referred to a committee comprising the federal ministers for finance and health, which has already approved the recommendations. However, the final decision by the federal cabinet is still pending.
Pharmaceutical companies Abbott and Viatris, formerly associated with Mylan, are waiting for the revised prices to be approved before importing their influenza vaccines into the country.
DRAP officials said Federal Minister for Climate Change Musadik Malik had also held several meetings regarding the matter.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of National Health Services said two Chinese-made influenza vaccine brands, N-Flu and Virionza, are available in Pakistan’s local market.
The ministry further stated that the World Health Organization (WHO) has approved a three-strain influenza vaccine for the current season, while four-strain vaccines have been withdrawn globally.
A spokesperson for the Pharma Bureau said that Chinese-made products are currently the only influenza vaccines available in Pakistan, as imports of other brands remain pending.
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