Islamabad: Senator Ahad Cheema, Minister for Economic Affairs, has mandated an urgent overhaul of the drug pricing regulatory framework in response to concerns over consumer protection and medication availability.

According to Radio Pakistan, during a meeting held in Islamabad, Cheema instructed the Secretary of National Health Services and the CEO of the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) to finalize and present revised rules for the Hardship Policy. This policy addresses the pricing of essential medicines and aims to prevent unjustified price increases. The Minister emphasized the need for a comprehensive review of the price-increase formula to ensure thorough scrutiny and independent verification, preventing automatic cost transfers to consumers.

Cheema further directed modifications to the DRAP Policy Board’s composition to enhance decision-making based on expertise and evidence. The meeting also included a briefing on the current application of the Hardship Policy by DRAP officials. The Minister raised concerns about importers seeking relief under the policy and subsequently increasing prices, stressing that revised rules should mitigate this issue and reflect the benefits of the Hardship Policy within the pricing structure.

Additionally, Cheema called for a mechanism to rationalize importer and retailer margins, ensuring a balanced approach to drug pricing.