Prices of 70,OOO drugs have been hiked according to the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP).
Read more: Pricing dispute hits supply of TB drugs in Pakistan
A notification in this regard has been issued by the regulatory authority Tuesday (today).
The drugs include hepatitis, asthma and TB.
Read more: Unable to absorb inflation, many pharmacies halt production of TB drugs
-PRICING POLICY-
Formed in 2012 to oversee drug regulation, DRAP this month instituted a first annual price increase since 2001, with increases pegged to inflation, which last year was at a 46-year low of 2.86 percent.
Last month, DRAP also allowed for an 8 percent increase in TB drug prices under a hardship clause, which drug companies can apply for once every three years.
About 18 months ago, DRAP recommended that at least three dozen drugs be put under a new ‘orphan drug’ policy – for medicines developed to treat rare diseases, and typically with no price cap, so as to give manufacturers an incentive to produce for a small market.
“Anti-TB drugs, cardiac drugs, anti-cancer drugs – these are critically needed,” DRAP official.
TB is not classified as a rare disease in Pakistan, but listing it as an orphan disease would allow companies to get around current regulations and sell TB drugs at cost price.
Sajid Hussain Shah, a ministry spokesman, said work was ongoing on the policy.
