ISLAMABAD – Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination has decided to take strict action against the unauthorized increase in prices of some medicines by pharmaceutical companies, the Radio Pakistan reported on Thursday.
According to an official of the National Health Ministry, the decision was taken after complaints about the increase of drugs prices by some elements in the pharma industry, beyond the approved maximum retail prices by the government.
He said that the authority has advised to monitor maximum retail prices (MRPs) in the market and ensure that MRPs of drugs were not higher than the prices notified in a notification issued by the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP).
He added that in case of stocks available in the retail shops or manufactured or imported prior to issuance of SROs must be sold at previous MRPs printed on the label in the manner prescribed by the Drugs (Labeling and Packing) Rules, 1986 while stickers or cuttings are not allowed.
He said as per order in case of non-compliance legal action would be taken against violations under the Drugs Act, 1976, DRAP Act 2012 and other framed rules.
Meanwhile, Minister for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, Aamir Mehmood Kiani has also directed to start a crackdown against pharmaceutical companies for increasing the prices of medicines against the approved prices.
The minister said that “Though the DRAP deals with the matter, as a government representative, I consider myself responsible for providing relief to the masses and answerable to them.”
He said that he was personally looking into the matter and would not tolerate an illegal and unauthorized increase in the prices of medicines.
In a notification issued on January 10, 2019, the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) had made increase of nine percent over and above the maximum retail prices as determined under hardship category during the year 2018.
