In a recent announcement, the interim government implemented a price increase for a significant number of essential drugs on Wednesday. This hike affects at least 146 medications and covers various categories, including cancer treatments, vaccines, and antibiotics.
The decision follows a proposal by the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan advocating for price adjustments for 262 medications. However, the caretaker administration chose to endorse price adjustments for only 146 drugs initially. Additionally, pharmaceutical entities have been given the autonomy to raise prices for an additional 116 drugs from the proposed list.
This transition marks a shift in policy, allowing pharmaceutical companies to independently determine price increments, effectively deregulating drug pricing. Governmental oversight will now be restricted to overseeing the pricing of 464 drugs designated within the National Essential Medicines List.
