Prices of 52 life-saving medicines expected to be fixed this month

The prices of 52 newly registered life-saving medicines are expected to be fixed this month, according to sources.

A meeting between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the Federal Health Minister, and officials of the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) has been scheduled.

According to sources, the Prime Minister will meet with the Health Minister, Finance Minister, and CEO of DRAP tomorrow. A briefing will be given on the pricing of 52 new medicines as well as pending hardship cases.

The purpose of the meeting is to seek the Prime Minister’s support for the pricing of the 52 medicines and the resolution of hardship cases, sources said.

Approval for the 52 newly registered medicines will subsequently be sought from the federal cabinet.

The DRAP Policy Board and Pricing Committee have already approved the prices of the 52 new medicines, according to sources. The Cabinet Drug Pricing Committee approved the medicines on July 24.

Meanwhile, hardship cases involving nearly 100 medicines for various diseases are still pending, sources said.

Following cabinet approval, DRAP will issue a notification formally announcing the prices of the new medicines.

The medicines include treatments for cancer, diabetes, hemophilia, autoimmune disorders, and critical-care conditions, according to sources.