The National Assembly’s Standing Committee on National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination on Thursday decided to hold meetings on daily basis from August 9 to resolve the issues of pricing and quality of medicines.
The committee meeting which was chaired by MNA Dr Khalid Hussain Magsi asked the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) to attend the committee meetings and submit recommendations for having a proper discussion on legislation.
MNA Dr Zulfiqar Bhatti said that the pharmaceutical companies arrange foreign visits of doctors to promote their relevant medicines but a medicine worth Rs 10 is being sold for Rs 100. He urged to have a proper check on these matters.
DRAP CEO Dr Aslam Khan said that every pharmaceutical company has to reduce price by 30% after four years of registration of a medicine.
He said that DRAP was facing legislation issues due to which pricing and quality issues could not be addressed properly.
The committee members assured that the PMDC bill will be approved in the joint session and that no one will be allowed to create hurdles in way of legislation of the PMDC.
Earlier, PMDC President Dr Shabir Lehri apprised the committee about the status of the PMDC bill.
The committee asked the National Assembly’s legal advisor about the legal status of the bill who informed them that the joint session will now approve the bill as the 90-day period has expired.
