LAHORE: The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) on Monday increased prices of 253 medicines by up to 22 to 35 per cent.
A notification in this regard has been issued by the regulatory body. This is the second increase in the prices of medicines in a month.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Drug Lawyers Forum (PDLF) President Noor Mohammad Mahar has demanded the federal government to take back the hike in medicine prices.
On September 24, Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) on Health Dr Faisal Sultan had said that the recent hike in prices of 94 essential life-saving drugs by DRAP was ‘inevitable’ to ensure availability of the medicines.
Dr Faisal Sultan, while talking to the media in Islamabad, had said that a ‘reasonable increase’ was made in prices of 94 essential drugs by the DRAP. Pharmaceutical companies usually stop production of some medicines if prices are not increasing, he had said, adding a halt in production by the pharmaceutical companies creates a shortage of drugs across the country.
