Prices of 52 Essential Medicines Await Cabinet Approval

ISLAMABAD: (Health Reporter) – Prices of 52 essential and life-saving medicines remain pending despite approval by the Cabinet Drug Pricing Committee, as the Ministry of Health seeks a meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to move the matter before the federal cabinet, sources said.

The Cabinet Drug Pricing Committee approved the proposed prices on July 24, but the notification cannot be issued until it receives approval from the federal cabinet, according to the sources.

Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal and Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb are expected to attend the proposed meeting with the prime minister, along with the federal health secretary and the chief executive officer of the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP).

The Health Ministry plans to seek the prime minister’s approval to place the issue before the federal cabinet. It will also request approval for hardship cases involving essential medicines.

Once the federal cabinet gives its approval, DRAP will determine the maximum retail prices (MRPs) of the medicines covered by the decision.

Sources said pharmaceutical companies were facing difficulties in maintaining uninterrupted supplies of some medicines at their existing prices, raising concerns over the availability of essential drugs. They added that dozens of registered medicines were already unavailable in the market despite earlier price approvals.

The hardship cases include an influenza vaccine and morphine, which is used in the treatment of cancer patients.

The Cabinet Drug Pricing Committee, chaired by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, approved the prices of the 52 medicines on July 24 based on recommendations from DRAP’s Drug Pricing Committee and Policy Board.

The medicines on the list cover a wide range of serious health conditions, including cancer, diabetes, haemophilia, Parkinson’s disease and autoimmune disorders. The list also includes medicines used to prevent blood clots.

According to sources, medicines required to treat serious infections, intensive-care patients and emergency cases are also among those awaiting final approval.