ISLAMABAD: Even as the prices of medicines continue to increase, and there have been numerous complaints that pharmaceutical companies are increasing drug prices without informing the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (Drap), the Ministry of National Health Services (NHS) is satisfied with its efforts to lower drug prices.

A reply submitted by NHS minister Saira Afzal Tarar to the Senate shows that a number of measures have been undertaken to ensure drugs are supplied at affordable rates.

Ms Tarar, while replying to questions by MQM Senator retired Col Syed Tahir Hussain Mashhadi, said there are more than 60,000 generic drugs of around 1,400 formulas registered by Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan to various manufacturers.

She said the authority is in the process of updating a separate list of generic drugs registered with it.

She said that Drap notified a Drug Pricing Policy in March 2015 with the approval of the federal government and the Cabinet Economic Coordination Committee, and that prices of medications have been frozen until July 2016.

Increases will be allowed under the orphan drug, intravenous infusions and drugs under hardship category which have been nonviable to market.

She said Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan field offices have been advised to conduct market surveys and take action against companies found to be overcharging.

Provincial health authorities have been advised to take action against companies that increase drug prices above the approved rates.

According to the statement, manufacturing of generic drugs is being encouraged, as these are more affordable.

The statement goes on to say that in 2013, Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan filed an application in the Supreme Court seeking to pass appropriate orders for the disposal of petitions filed by pharmaceutical companies in the Sindh and Lahore high courts and civil courts. The Supreme Court has also issued notices to 17 companies for illegal price increases.

According to the statement, in 2013 Drap also filed 25 applications in various courts to vacate stay orders issued in matters of unauthorised price increases.

On Nov 28, 2013, the NHS ministry increased medicine prices by 15pc, and a notification was issued in this regard. The prime minister took notice of the price increases and the notification was withdrawn on Nov 29 2013.

However, the ministry’s step gave pharmaceutical companies to opportunity to raise prices, and the companies obtained stay orders after doing so.

An official from the NHS ministry said that there is a simply solution to the problem of increased prices and the sale of spurious drugs: the implementation of the barcode system (BCS).

“After implementation of BCS, pharmaceutical companies will have to print a barcode on medicine packets, through which people will be able to check the price and quality of the drug by downloading software onto their smartphones,” the official said.

“The purchaser will get information on the name of the product, the maker, the batch number, the expiration date and the price, and so will be able to verify the drug. The software will not identify the barcodes of spurious medicines, so it will become possible for both owners of medical stores and purchasers to ensure the purchase of genuine drugs.”

Published in Dawn, January 3rd, 2016