LAHORE: The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) recently announced to increase the prices of 253 medicines by up to 22 to 35 per cent after fixing the maximum retail prices (MPR) of drugs on the basis of its packing sizes with certain other conditions.
According to a notification issued by DRAP, the decision was made with the approval from the Federal government and in exercise of powers conferred by clause (a) of section 7 of the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan Act, 2012 (XXI of 2012) read with section 12 of the Drugs Act, 1976 (XXXI of 1976).
The maximum retail price will be subject to the conditions like importers and manufacturers of drug will furnish MRP of the drug to the Division of Costing and Pricing of the DRAP while the MRP will be printed on the label in the manner prescribed by the Drugs (Labeling and Packing) Rules, 1986.
Similarly, MRP as mentioned in column (4) of the notification table will not be applicable on drugs whose registrations under sub-rule (4) of rule 29 of the Drug (Licensing, Registration and Advertising) Rules, 1976 were issued before the issuance of this notification, unless otherwise stated expressively, the notification said.
As per notification, a four-column table has been formed to fix maximum retail prices specified in column 4 of the table on which the drugs specified in column 2 having packing sizes specified in column 3, will be sold, subject to the conditions specified in paragraph 2 of the notification.
These medicines were related to high blood pressure, cancer, hepatitis and other diseases.
Earlier, Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) on Health Dr Faisal Sultan announced that the recent hike in prices of 94 essential life-saving drugs by DRAP was ‘inevitable’ to ensure availability of the medicines.
Dr Faisal Sultan, while talking to the media in Islamabad, had said that a ‘reasonable increase’ was made in prices of 94 essential drugs by the DRAP. Pharmaceutical companies usually stop production of some medicines if prices are not increasing, he had said, adding a halt in production by the pharmaceutical companies creates a shortage of drugs across the country.
-DN Report
