Govt jacks up prices of 146 life-saving medicines

The federal government has increased the prices of 146 life-saving medicines.

In this connection, the government has issued a notification, according to which the prices of cancer, vaccines and antibiotic drugs have been increased.

Health Ministry officials say that the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (Drap) had sent a summary to the government to increase the prices of 262 medicines. However, the government has increased the prices of 146 life-saving medicines included in the list.

According to officials, the prices of 116 medicines included in the list will be increased by the pharmaceutical companies themselves. The government will now only control the prices of 464 medicines included in the National Essential Medicines List.

Yesterday, the government had deregulated the prices of medicines and allowed pharmaceutical companies to increase prices on their own.