ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination on Wednesday decided to take strict action against an unauthorized increase in prices of some medicines by pharmaceutical companies.
According to an official of ministry, the decision was made by Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) on receiving some complaints that unscrupulous elements in pharma industry have increased prices of their drugs over and above approved maximum retail prices (MRPs) by the federal government.
He added that the DRAP had allowed only nine percent MRPs increase in hardship category and only 15 percent MRPs increase of medicines determined under Drug Pricing Policy, 2018 for drugs other than those specified in clause (a).
The official said the authority has advised to monitor MRPs in the market and ensure that MRPs of drugs were not higher than the prices notified in a notification issued by DRAP.
He added that in case of stocks available in the retail shops or manufactured or imported prior to issuance of SROs must be sold at previous MRPs printed on the label in the manner prescribed by the Drugs (Labeling and Packing) Rules, 1986 while stickers or cuttings are not allowed, he added.
He said as per order in case of non-compliance legal action would be taken against violations under the Drugs Act, 1976, DRAP Act 2012 and other framed rules.
Meanwhile, Minister for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, Aamir Mehmood Kiani also directed to start a crackdown against pharmaceutical companies on increasing the prices of medicines against the approved prices of the federal government.
The minister said the government had approved maximum retail price of 889 medicines with increase up to nine percent and made it clear the ministry would not allow anyone to increase over and above approved maximum retail price by the federal government.
He said pharma industry was bound to increase prices of nine percent as approved by the government on 889 medicines and warned that stern action will be taken on illegal price increase on these 889 or other medicines.
It is pertinent to mention here that in a notification issued on January 10, 2019, the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) had made increase of nine percent over and above the maximum retail prices as determined under hardship category during the year 2018.
