Cabinet allows hike in 146 life-saving drugs’ prices 

ISLAMABAD: The caretaker federal cabinet approved a revision in the prices of 146 essential life-saving medicines categorized under hardship, considering the escalating costs of their raw materials in the global market.

Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar, presiding over the cabinet, directed an intensified crackdown on drug smugglers and hoarders while stressing the need for improving performance from the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (Drap).

Prime Minister Kakar instructed authorities to further increase the efforts of Drap and expedite actions against individuals involved in illegal drug activities.

He sought recommendations for essential legislative measures aimed at deregulating drug prices, to be presented before the Parliament in the next elected government's tenure.

In his address to the cabinet, Prime Minister Kakar reaffirmed the government's commitment to ensuring the availability of affordable medicines for the patients. He underscored the formulation of policies aimed at both benefiting the common citizen and boosting the growth of the pharmaceutical sector.

The Ministry of National Health Services and DRAP apprised the cabinet that citizens could now lodge complaints regarding medicine unavailability through the Authority's online portal.

Upon the Ministry of Finance's recommendation, the cabinet approved the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Competition Commission of Pakistan and the State Administration of Market Regulation (SAMR) China. This agreement aims to bolster information exchange and technical cooperation between the two nations.