The federal government has sought Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s approval to fix the prices of 52 newly registered life-saving medicines, with the Health Ministry warning that the medicines cannot legally be marketed in Pakistan until their prices receive final approval.
The development comes as dozens of newly registered medicines remain unavailable in the regulated market despite their prices already being approved by the Cabinet Committee on Drug Pricing.
Health and finance officials are expected to brief the prime minister on the matter and seek permission to place the proposed prices before the federal cabinet for final approval.
The move is considered important because the medicines cover treatments for several serious and chronic diseases, including cancer, diabetes, hemophilia, Parkinson’s disease, autoimmune disorders and blood-clotting conditions.
PM Approval Sought for 52 Medicines
According to Health Ministry officials, Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal and Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb are expected to meet Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif along with senior officials to discuss the pricing issue.
The officials will seek approval for placing the matter before the federal cabinet, which is required to formally approve the proposed prices.
The Cabinet Committee on Drug Pricing had already approved prices for all 52 medicines on July 24 after reviewing recommendations submitted by the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan’s (DRAP) Drug Pricing Committee and Policy Board.
However, the medicines cannot be legally marketed in Pakistan until the federal cabinet gives its approval and DRAP formally issues notifications determining their maximum retail prices.
Medicines Remain Unavailable
The Health Ministry has described the matter as urgent because newly registered medicines are still unavailable in the regulated market despite the pricing committee completing its review.
Officials have indicated that the delay in final approval is preventing manufacturers and importers from legally bringing the medicines to consumers under the approved pricing framework.
Once the federal cabinet approves the prices, DRAP will be able to formally notify the maximum retail prices, allowing the medicines to enter the regulated market.
The government is therefore seeking to complete the remaining approval process so that patients requiring these treatments can gain access to the newly registered medicines.
Treatments Cover Serious Diseases
The 52 medicines cover a wide range of medical conditions and critical treatments.
According to officials, the list includes medicines used in the treatment of cancer, diabetes, hemophilia, Parkinson’s disease and autoimmune disorders.
The medicines also include treatments for blood clots, serious infections, intensive care and emergency medical situations.
The availability of such medicines is particularly important for patients who depend on specialized treatments and may have limited alternatives.
Delays in bringing newly registered medicines to the market can create difficulties for patients, healthcare providers and hospitals, particularly when the medicines are intended for serious or life-threatening conditions.
Government Also Considering Hardship Cases
Alongside the pricing of the 52 newly registered medicines, the government is also seeking approval for hardship cases involving essential medicines.
Manufacturers and importers of several medicines have requested price increases, arguing that continuing to supply them at existing prices has become increasingly difficult.
The hardship cases include influenza vaccines, morphine used in cancer treatment and other medicines facing supply pressures.
The requests are being considered separately as the government attempts to balance the availability of essential medicines with the need to protect consumers from excessive price increases.
Officials face the challenge of ensuring that medicines remain affordable while also making it financially viable for manufacturers and importers to continue supplying products to the Pakistani market.
Senior Officials to Attend Meeting
The proposed meeting with the prime minister is expected to include the federal health and finance ministers as well as senior officials from the Health Ministry and DRAP.
Health Ministry officials said Federal Health Secretary Muhammad Aslam Ghauri and DRAP Chief Executive Officer Dr. Obaidullah are also expected to participate in discussions.
The officials are expected to brief Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on the status of the 52 medicines, the pricing recommendations and the need for cabinet approval.
Next Steps
If the prime minister approves the proposal, the matter is expected to proceed to the federal cabinet for consideration.
Following cabinet approval, DRAP would formally notify the maximum retail prices of the medicines, completing the regulatory process required before they can legally be marketed in Pakistan.
The government’s decision could therefore determine when the newly registered medicines become available through the regulated market.
The issue also highlights the broader challenges involved in balancing medicine affordability, supply continuity and pharmaceutical industry costs.
With the 52 medicines covering treatments for serious diseases and the government separately considering hardship price requests for essential drugs, the upcoming approval process is expected to receive significant attention from patients, healthcare providers and pharmaceutical companies.
For now, the medicines remain subject to the final approval process, with the Health Ministry seeking to expedite the decision so that the drugs can be legally marketed and made available to patients across Pakistan.
