Firdous asks PPMA to devise balanced pricing formula

Federal Minister of National Regularization and Services Firdous Ashiq Awan has asked drug manufacturers to devise and submit a “pricing formula” for medicines keeping in view the interest of all stakeholders specially the consumers to resolve the issue once and for all.
Speaking at the reception in her honour by Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (PPMA) here Thursday night she said that the government will approve a “balanced formula” that should take care the interests of producers, end consumers keeping in view the rate of inflation in the country and prices in international market. Leading manufacturers of pharmaceutical, head of Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) Qazi Abdul Saboor were also present on the occasion.
The minister pointed out that the interest of consumers is prime for the government and said that reasonable which are acceptable to consumers will be approved by the government.
Shedding light on Drug Regularity Authority of Pakistan (DRAP), she said its ordinance will be revised to make it more effective, fruitful to serve the pharmaceutical industry.
She expressed opinion that instead of an ordinance, the drug regulatory authority should be created through a bill and said pharmaceutical industry will hear a good news, soon, regarding a unanimously accepted bill for drug regulatory authority. Awan urged the PPMA members to transform their CSR activities towards supporting education particularly in pharmacy discipline, so as to produce skilled pharmacy experts.
The Minister assured drug manufacturers that the status of PPMA’s representative in DRAP would be upgraded from observer to a member through legislation. Dr Firdous assured PPMA that all the issues of manufacturers, including provision of policy, registration of drugs, issuance of approved registration letters, and contract manufacturing policy, would be resolved soon, however. She said DRAP will meet every 15 days to handle issues of licenses and other matters.
The Minister said that she was pleased and satisfied to know that despite of gloomy economic situation, pharmaceutical sector has an enormous potential not only to be grown but also to compete in international market. Referring to her visits to various domestic and international pharmaceutical manufacturing units, she said standards of domestic and international manufacturers regarding proficiency, vision and commitment were same.
Renowned pharmacist and Senator Abdul Hasib said while talking about the DRAP said that it would not be gone longer as it was constituted under a fake ordinance, which would be die itself after 120 days, however legislation should be made through proper channel, so as to form a genuine DRAP.
He pointed out several dimensions, in which, according to him, PPMA would have to done a lot of work. He also urged PPMA to form a balance and competent pricing formula. Earlier, PPMA vice chairman Zahid Saeed said that billions of rupees of PPMA members have been blocked due to non issue of licenses and export registration in the country.
We are still willing to invest further billions of rupees despite disturbances in Karachi. Saeed welcomed the announcement of the minister about pricing formula and DRAP and said local manufacturers were doing third party manufacturing for multinationals. He said domestic pharma industry was growing at a rate of 20 to 22 percent annually.