Around 40 registered medicines remain unavailable as government delays price approvals

Around 40 medicines registered in Pakistan remain unavailable because the federal government has yet to approve their prices, restricting access to treatments for cancer, diabetes and other serious illnesses, according to a news report. 

The pending list includes cancer medicines such as Pembrolizumab, Nivolumab, Irinotecan, Dasatinib and Leucovorin, along with Humador insulin, Adalimumab, recombinant Factor VIII and Carbidopa-Levodopa.

It also covers blood thinners Dabigatran and Heparin, pregnancy hypertension medicine Methyldopa, antibiotics Meropenem and Fosfomycin, Ketamine, vaccines, radiology contrast agents and medicines used in emergency departments and intensive care units.

According to the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan, the Drug Pricing Committee finalised price recommendations between December 2024 and June 2025. The DRAP Policy Board endorsed them before forwarding the cases to the federal government.

A Cabinet Committee headed by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb later decided that the finance and health ministers would brief the prime minister before the proposals were resubmitted for approval.

Pakistan Chemists and Druggists Association Chairman Abdul Samad Buddani warned that shortages were pushing patients towards smuggled, counterfeit or substandard products.

The Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association also urged the government to expedite approvals, saying companies cannot legally market the medicines until official prices are notified.