ISLAMABAD: On the orders of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) on Friday withdrew its notification regarding 15 per cent increase in prices of 11,000 medicines.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Association (PPMA) announced to challenge the withdrawal of notification in the court.

It is pertinent to mention that after a long discussions and consultation with all stakeholders on Thursday, DRAP increased prices of medicine by 15pc. The notification was applicable only to those medicines whose prices had not been increased since 2001 and did not include any of the essential life saving medicines.

A senior officer of Ministry of Health Services requesting anonymity told Dawn that due to the price issue, some medicines were not available in the market and people were facing serious problems.

“On Friday, the prime minister took notice of the price increase and instructed the ministry to withdraw the notification due to which within 24 hours of issuance, notification has been withdrawn,” he said.

“Medicines will be sold on same prices before the issuance of notification. Although it is a good decision by the prime minister and favours the masses, there are chances that manufacturers will stop production. The government will have no choice but to import drugs,” he said.

“If medicines are imported, their prices will be high and it will also increase the import bill of the government,” he added.

However, another officer of ministry said that importing medicines will be a good decision, alleging that local manufacturers were compromising on the quality of the drugs.

“There are so many cases in which companies included less quantity of medicine in capsules and solvable medicine (antibiotic). Prices should not be increased without assuring quality and efficacy of the medicines,” he said.

PPMA chairman Nasir Chowdhry while talking to Dawn said that after a long wait of 11 years, prices of medicines were increased but within 24 hours notification was withdrawn.

“We have no option but to challenge the withdrawal of notification in court. The association will try to seek a stay order because a revised list of prices was issued immediately after the issuance of notification on Thursday,” he said.

Minister National Health Services Saira Afzal Tarar while talking to Dawn confirmed that the notification has been withdrawn on the orders of the prime minister.

“Now a high level committee will be constituted on the directions of the prime minister and it will decide about the prices on case to case basis,” she added.