Prices of 177 medicines increased on companies' request, Senate told

ISLAMABAD (Staff Report) - The Senate on Tuesday was informed that pharmaceutical companies were seeking an increase in prices of 612 medicines, however the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan had approved a price increase for only 177 medicines.

The Upper House resumed its session with Chairman Senate Mian Raza Rabbani in the chair.

Minister of State for National Health Services Saira Afzal Tarar, while  responding to calling attention notice moved by Mian Muhammad Ateeq Sheikh, said that only the prices of certain medicines had been increased by eight percent because their raw material prices witnessed an upsurge in recent times.

The chairman senate admitted for discussion an adjournment motion regarding re-verification of the CNICs of the entire population. The motion was moved by Muhammad Usman Khan Kakar and others. Rabbani said that discussion on the motion will be held on Thursday.

Later, the House resumed discussion on the Finance Bill 2016-17.

Taking part in the debate, Usman Khan Kakar said all the federating units should be treated equally in terms of economic development.

He said the new budget envisages no measures to address the problems faced by poor and disadvantaged segments of the society.

Saeed Ghani said that development schemes of small provinces should be incorporated in the PSDP to remove their sense of deprivation. He said that concrete steps are required to revive the agriculture sector which is the backbone of our economy.