ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination has taken several steps to keep prices of drugs in the market at approved rates.
According to an official of Minister for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan’s (DRAP) field offices have been advised to be vigilant and conduct market surveys and also take actions against the companies, if found overcharging of drugs.
The Minister said that Federal Inspector of Drugs have conducted raids on the warehouses of manufacturers and importers and have seized stocks of drugs of five companies being sold at prices above the rates fixed by the federal government.
He also said that manufacturing of generic drugs is being encouraged and facilitated, as the generic products are cheaper than the branded drugs. Facilitations are being given to the manufacturers of generic drugs and to make their investment fruitful in the shortest possible time.
Meetings of various boards are being held frequently, he added. Priority is also being given to grant registration to new licenses to increase production of drugs which increase competition in the market which in turn results in the reduction of prices of drugs.
He said that during last seven months, some pharmaceutical companies increased prices of their registered drugs without approval of the federal government. He said that the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan is committed to increase the building of the pharmaceutical companies in Pakistan.
He added by saying that to enhance capacity building of pharmaceutical companies, a number of workshops were organized in collaboration with World Health Organization (WHO) and United States Pharmacopoeia in major cities of the country.
