Medicine price row intensifies as lawyers claim sharp hikes, industry rejects increase reports

Pharmaceutical manufacturers have rejected claims of rising medicine prices, asserting that the rates of essential drugs regulated by the government have remained unchanged in recent months despite mounting production and logistics costs, according to a statement issued by the Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association.

The association said medicines including insulin, antibiotics, cardiovascular drugs, antihypertensives, anti-diabetics and vaccines were widely available across the country, adding that manufacturers had absorbed cost pressures stemming from higher fuel prices, freight charges and increased import expenses for raw materials amid the ongoing regional situation.

However, the Pakistan Drug Lawyers Forum has strongly contested the industry’s position, alleging that medicine prices have surged significantly since the caretaker government deregulated drug pricing in February 2024.

Forum President Noor Muhammad Mehr said a comparison of old and new batches of several medicines revealed substantial price increases, in some instances exceeding 100 percent over the past two years. He warned that the burden had become increasingly difficult for patients, particularly those suffering from chronic illnesses requiring continuous medication.

According to the forum’s analysis, the price of thyroid drug Thyronorm increased by about 241 percent, while the insulin delivery device HumaPen Ergo II recorded a rise of 114 percent. Other medicines also showed price increases, including Bevidox by 20 percent, CitroSoda by 17 percent and Tiovair by 15 percent, with comparatively smaller increases observed in Surbex-Z and Lice-O-Mite lotion.

The forum provided specific price comparisons to support its claims. CitroSoda rose from Rs530 to Rs620, Surbex-Z from Rs480 to Rs510, Bevidox from Rs500 to Rs600, HumaPen Ergo II from Rs2,200 to Rs4,720, Thyronorm from Rs85.10 to Rs290, Tiovair from Rs805 to Rs930 and Lice-O-Mite Lotion from Rs147.44 to Rs152.06.

Mehr said patients with diabetes, thyroid disorders and respiratory conditions were among the hardest hit, noting that uninterrupted access to medication was essential for managing such illnesses. He also highlighted pricing variations between different batches of the same medicines, describing them as evidence of weaknesses in regulatory oversight.

The forum has called on the government and the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan to take immediate action by enforcing stricter price controls and addressing what it described as a growing affordability crisis.

Separately, the manufacturers’ association said shortages of certain advanced therapies, including modern cancer treatments, vaccines and immunoglobulins, were primarily linked to delays in government price notifications despite prior regulatory approvals. It maintained that timely notification of approved prices would improve market availability and reduce pressure on patients.