KARACHI: Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufa­cturers Association (PPMA) has dismissed the proposed drugs policy and said that the health ministry and

the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) had ignored its recommendations before sending it to the prime minister for approval.

“No description about raise in cost of medicines since 15 years has been made in the proposed policy which is a matter of great concern. The crisis-hit pharmaceutical industry will face more losses, if prices are not raised on priority basis,” the PPMA said in a statement.

It said that about 100 pharmaceutical factories had been closed during the last 15 years and it is feared that more would face closure.

The delay in the price raise would cause shortage of medicines in the market and ultimately sale of substandard and smuggled medicines would get a boost, which would endanger the health of millions of patients in the country.

The PPMA said that the State Bank of Pakistan in its annual report had strongly criticised the drug control authority and drug policy.

It said that 60 per cent of medicines in Pakistan are cheaper as compared to India.

“In 2013, the government had approved 15pc interim raise, which too was withdrawn. In the drug pricing policy, the government had mentioned to seize prices of medicines by November 2013,” it said, urging the prime minister, the finance minister and the health ministers to play their due role in ending the crisis faced by the pharmaceutical industry and save it from losses.

Published in Dawn, January 2nd, 2015