15% increase in medicine prices in Pakistan!

The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) has approved an increase in the price of medicines and life-saving drugs across the country, stated notification.

The authority notified in a notification that an increase of nine percent in the retail price of life-saving drugs, while prices of other medicines will go up by 15 percent.
The notification reads:

“Maximum retail prices of drugs may be increased under paragraph 12 (8) of the Drug Pricing Policy, 2018.

Nine percent over and above the maximum retail prices as determined under hardship category during the year 2018, and 15 percent over and above the existing maximum retail prices determined under the Drug Pricing Policy, 2018 for drugs other than those specified in Clause (a).

The revised maximum retail prices shall be printed on the label in the manner prescribed by the Drugs [Labelling and Packaging] Rules, 1986.

And the manufacturers and importers of drugs shall furnish calculations of the revised maximum retail price of drugs to the Division of Costing and Pricing of the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan before affecting the increase”.

According to the DRAP notification, the decision of the increase in medicine/drug prices has been approved by the federal government.

Drug companies had been demanding an increase in the prices of medicines for some time. The companies had also threatened to stop the manufacturing of the drugs.