Life-saving medicine crisis deepens as prices of 52 drugs remain unfixed
Health minister asked PM for meeting to seek final approval, as cabinet drug committee already recommends prices: Medicines of cancer, diabetes, haemophilia are included in list
Prices for 52 important and life-saving medicines have still not been fixed despite approval by the Cabinet Drug Pricing Committee, the 24NewsHD TV channel reported on Thursday.
According to sources, Health Minister Mustafa Kamal and Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb decided to meet the prime minister to seek approval for the medicine prices from the federal cabinet.
The federal health secretary and the chief executive of the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan will also attend the meeting.
The Cabinet Drug Pricing Committee has already approved the prices of the 52 life-saving medicines. However, the prices cannot be officially notified without approval from the federal cabinet.
After cabinet approval, the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan will set the maximum retail prices for the medicines.
Sources said the Ministry of Health wants to present the matter to the federal cabinet with the prime minister's approval.
The ministry will also ask the PM to approve hardship cases involving essential medicines. The hardship cases include influenza vaccines and morphine used by cancer patients.
Health Ministry sources said pharmaceutical companies had described it as difficult to maintain a continuous supply of several medicines at their current prices.
They warned that supplies of a number of essential medicines could be affected if the issue was not resolved.
Dozens of registered medicines are reportedly unavailable in the market despite their prices having been approved.
The Cabinet Drug Pricing Committee, chaired by Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, approved the prices of 52 medicines on 24 July.
The prices were approved on the recommendations of the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan’s Drug Pricing Committee and Policy Board.
The medicines on the list include treatments for cancer, diabetes and haemophilia, as well as medicines for Parkinson’s disease, autoimmune disorders and blood clots. Drugs used to treat serious infections, patients in intensive care and emergency medical conditions are also included.
Reporter: Babar Shahzad Turk