Islamabad: The government of Pakistan convened a meeting to address issues surrounding drug pricing, prioritizing public facilitation in the process. Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Establishment Division Senator Ahad Cheema led the discussions, focusing on the evaluation of pending drug-pricing cases and the current pricing formula.

According to Press Information Department, officials reported that the evaluation of drug-pricing cases is nearing completion. Senator Cheema expressed satisfaction with the progress and urged officials to advance the cases for further action. He acknowledged the contributions of Federal Minister for Climate Change Dr. Musadik Malik and Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) officials in the evaluation efforts.

The meeting highlighted that the trivalent flu vaccine, as recommended by the World Health Organization, is adequately stocked in the market, allowing DRAP to withdraw a hardship case related to the vaccine due to controlled international prices.

Officials also noted ongoing reviews of the drug-pricing formula, specifically focusing on provisions that might impede fair pricing. Senator Cheema recommended that DRAP consider acquiring subscriptions to drug pricing databases to facilitate independent price evaluations, stressing public facilitation as a primary concern and rejecting unjustified price hikes.

The Minister emphasized the value of international comparisons for establishing benchmarks while advocating for independent checks. He insisted that the pricing strategy should cater to the public and avoid creating barriers for importers and the pharmaceutical industry.

The meeting was attended by Federal Minister for Climate Change Dr. Musadik Malik, Secretary Health Momin Agha, CEO DRAP Dr. Obaidullah, and other senior officials.