PMA Lahore calls for immediate intervention to control soaring drug prices

The Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) Lahore has raised an alarm over a steep and unchecked rise in medicine prices, 24NewsHD TV reported on Friday. 

The body alleged that recent policy changes had effectively removed government control from nearly 90 percent of pharmaceutical companies in the country.

PMA Lahore chapter president Prof Dr Shahid Malik said any increase in medicine prices under the previous system required prior approval from the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP). 

"However, the new policy has divided medicines into “essential” and “non-essential” categories, leaving only about 10 percent under price regulation while fully deregulating the remaining 90 percent."

He added that the move has granted pharmaceutical companies free rein to fix prices, triggering frequent hikes and placing an unbearable financial burden on the public.

"At a time of soaring inflation and widespread poverty, patients—particularly the poor and middle class—are struggling to afford even basic treatment."

Dr Shahid strongly condemned the policy, warning that pharmaceutical firms are earning billions of rupees in profits while ordinary citizens pay the price.

He noted that company owners and senior executives continue to draw massive salaries and benefits, all funded by unchecked medicine prices.

Prof Malik has appealed to the Prime Minister of Pakistan, the Chief Justice of Pakistan, and the Chief Justice of the Federal Constitutional Court to take immediate notice of the issue.

He demanded the restoration of the previous price control mechanism, under which no drug price increase was allowed without government and DRAP approval.

“Medicines are not a luxury but a basic human necessity,” he said, stressing that allowing companies to set prices freely amounts to injustice against patients. 

The PMA urged the government and judiciary to intervene urgently in the public interest and restore strict regulation to protect citizens from what it termed blatant exploitation in the pharmaceutical sector.