ISLAMABAD:
In a major blow to the inflation-hit people of the country, the caretaker federal government on Thursday increased the prices of 146 life-saving medicines.
A federal cabinet meeting, chaired by interim Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar, gave its nod to the move under the hardship category on the recommendation of the national health services ministry, which informed the huddle about the rising prices of raw material for preparing the medicines in the global market.
The national health services ministry and Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (Drap) told the meeting that citizens could file complaints about the unavailability of medicines in the market through the pharmaceutical industry regulator’s online portal.
Speaking to the participants of the meeting, the interim premier said the caretaker government was taking all possible steps to provide medicines to the common man at reasonable prices.
He added that the interim government was framing policies that would benefit the common man and also develop the pharmaceutical industry.
Kakar directed that suggestions should be made to further improve the performance of Drap.
He also ordered that action against the trafficking and hoarding of medicines should be accelerated.
The interim premier further directed that suggestions should be forwarded to prepare a draft summary for legislation by the next elected parliament for the deregulation of medicine prices.
A shortage of several life-saving drugs across the country has paved the way for smuggled medicines in the market.
Patients have no option but purchase the essential medicines at much higher prices than their actual rates.
The crisis hit the country after caretaker Health Minister Dr Nadeem Jan turned down the proposed prices of 262 drugs that were approved by Drap under its policy in Nov 2022, saying that matter would be decided by the next elected government.
The Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (PPMA) described the decision as “disastrous” for the medicine industry.
The federal cabinet, on the recommendation of the finance ministry, approved the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Competition Commission of Pakistan and China’s State Administration for Market Regulation.
Under the MoU, the exchange of information and technical capabilities between the two countries will increase.
The federal cabinet also allowed Pakistani psychologist Dr Muhammad Saleem Khan Tareen to receive the award of Member of the British Empire by UK King Charles III for his services in his field.
The cabinet further granted permission to Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar Sidhu to receive the Gold Medal for Aeronautical Merit from Italy.
The Italian government conferred this medal in recognition of his services for enhancing cooperation between the air forces of the two countries.
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