ISLAMABAD: Minister of State for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination Saira Afzal Tarar on Monday assured the National Assembly that there will be no increase in prices of essential medicines till 2016.
Replying during question hour in the House, the minister said the government would take strict action against those whomever increases prices of essential medicines.
“The present government has given Drug Pricing Policy for the first time in country’s history,” the minister added.
She said that by virtue of notification of Drug Pricing Policy 2015, prices of medicines have been frozen till July 2016 and till then no pharmaceutical company is authorized to increase prices of medicines beyond approved maximum retail prices.
It was in 2012 that 105 cases of unauthorized price increase by the Pharmaceutical companies were noticed by the Drug Regulatory Authority, the minister said. On action by DRAP, 17 companies filed writ petitions and suits in Sindh High Court, Lahore High Court and Civil Judge Lahore and managed to obtain stay orders.
She said that in 2013, Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Association filed a Constitutional Petition in the Sindh High Court, Karachi against the withdrawal of 15 percent price increase by the federal government, and the court suspended operation of the government notification meant for withdrawing increase.
The minister said the government has taken so many steps to control prices of drugs in the market at approved rates including regulation imposed in March, 2015 by DRAP, with the approval of federal government and Economic Coordination Committee of the Cabinet.
It notified a Drug Pricing Policy -2015 wherein prices of medicines have been frozen till July 2016 except increase allowed under orphan 20 drugs, intravenous infusions and drugs under hardship category which have become non-viable to market, she added.
The minister said that DRAP field offices have been advised to be vigilant, conduct market surveys and take actions against the companies if found overcharging.
Saira Afzal said Federal Inspector of Drugs have conducted raids on the warehouses of manufacturers and importers and have seized stocks of few drugs of five companies being sold at prices over and above than the prices fixed by the Federal Government.
To another question, the minister said there is no increase of Hemophilia patients including children and the number of Hemophilia patients is static to be around 15000.
She said the Hemophilia patients are provided free medical treatment in the government hospitals in the rural and urban areas including blood transfusion support and genetic counseling.
Regarding the new medical colleges in the country, she said that moratorium on opening of new medical and dental colleges lapsed on 31-12-2014.
Saira Afzal said a large number of applications were received at the Ministry for recognition of new medical and dental institutions. In this regard, a meeting was held in Ministry and it was decided after exhaustive discussion that moratorium be considered as not extended due to so many reasons.
The minister said that Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PM&DC) was an autonomous body and the government is making legislation in this regard.
