ECC Fixes Prices of 49 New Drugs

By: Omed Hajjana

Islamabad: The Cabinet’s Economic Coordination Committee on Monday approved the Maximum Retail Prices (MRPs) of 49 new drugs.

The Drug Pricing Committee (DPC) had recommended new prices for these drugs which are being introduced for the first time in Pakistan for better treatment of ailing patients.

An official of the Drug Regular Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) told the NewzTodays that these newly introduced 49 drugs would be used for the treatment of multiple diseases like cancer, blood pressure, diabetes, and lung diseases.NIH Comes Under Fire Over Failure to Submit Infectious Disease Data

The ECC reviewed a summary submitted by the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations, and Coordination to fix prices.

It examined the summary and allowed the fixation of Maximum Retail Prices ( MRPs) of 49 new drugs.

ECC was informed that the prices set by ECC were lower compared to their prices in the neighboring countries”, an official of the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination told the NewzTodays.

The official said that these are new drugs that are being introduced in Pakistan for the first time mostly at prices considerably lower than the other region, especially in India.

Noor Mehar, Drug Lawyers Forum President, while talking to NewzTodays, said that the current government and Drap are failed to provide relief regarding medicine prices to the public of the country. 

He pointed out that DPC comprised the components of one member of the Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturer Association (PPMA), and another member of the Pakistan Chemist and Drug Association (PCDA).

“No representatives from the public who are drug experts are included in DPC, due to the monopoly and strong nexus of Drap and PPMA”, he added.