ISLAMABAD: The federal government has approved long-awaited pricing for 35 newly registered essential and life-saving medicines, while price approvals for another 45 drugs are expected soon, in a major step aimed at addressing ongoing shortages affecting patients across Pakistan, according to a senior official from the Ministry of National Health Services.
These medicines, which include advanced cancer therapies, vaccines, and biological products, had remained unavailable in the market since 2024 despite being registered by the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP). The prolonged delay in price fixation had disrupted supply chains, leaving many patients without access to critical treatment options.
Officials said the decision was taken by the federal cabinet after strong advocacy by Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal, who highlighted the urgency of the situation before Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The government was informed that continued delays were endangering patients, particularly those requiring uninterrupted treatment for serious illnesses.
According to DRAP sources, the affected medicines include oncology drugs, transplant-related treatments, cardiovascular medicines, and vaccines such as Typhoid Vi, polio, and pneumococcal vaccines. Other critical drugs include human rabies immunoglobulin, recombinant coagulation factor VIII, and semaglutide.
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The prolonged non-availability of these medicines had forced many patients to rely on informal markets, raising concerns about quality, safety, and effectiveness. Officials noted that the delay in pricing had effectively blocked legal distribution of several modern therapies despite completion of regulatory approvals.
The Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers’ Association (PPMA) welcomed the decision, describing it as a crucial step toward resolving long-standing shortages. The association praised the government leadership, the health ministry, and DRAP for addressing what it called a serious healthcare challenge.
Industry representatives added that delays in price approvals over the past two years had restricted access to new treatment options and increased dependence on smuggled medicines, creating risks for public health. They expressed hope that the move would restore supply stability, improve patient care, and potentially strengthen Pakistan’s pharmaceutical export potential in the future.
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