ISLAMABAD: The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (Drap) is going to hold a meeting on Friday to increase the prices of around 10,000 medicines.

Stakeholders believe that though the prices would be increased by almost three per cent, there would be an overall 15pc hike because of the ‘cumulative effect’ under which prices of medicines having the same formula would go up by the same amount.

However, Drap’s Director Pricing Amanullah said the prices would be increased as per the policy and a notification would be issued after getting approval from the federal government.

After a gap of 15 years, the drug policy was formulated in 2015 and sanctioned by the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the cabinet.

According to the policy, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) is considered for increasing the drug prices. As the government has announced 4.16pc CPI for 2016-17, there will be an increase of 50pc of the CPI for the scheduled drugs (over 300 molecules also called life-saving drugs). The prices of the non-scheduled drugs will go up by 70pc of the CPI. However, threshold drugs (worth less than Rs3 per tablet) will be increased by 100pc of the CPI.

An official of the Ministry of National Health Services, requesting anonymity, told Dawn that though according to the policy the prices should be increased in July every year, after a meeting of the DPC in 2016 the then Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif expressed his resentment over the hikes in the drug prices and sought a detailed report from the ministry.

“So this year we were reluctant to increase the prices. Some of the companies moved the Sindh High Court (SHC) and last month obtained a decision in their favour that the drug policy should be implemented according to its spirit. So we have decided to hold a meeting of the DPC rather than challenging the court decision,” he said.

“The government has announced the CPI and we just have to show our consent regarding an increase in the prices. Moreover, after the meeting recommendations will be sent to the federal government for permission to raise the prices. After Drap issues a notification, the companies will increase the prices and intimate the Drap,” he said.

When asked if the prices of 70,000 registered medicines would be increased, the official said last year Drap had received 9,500 intimations from companies that they had increased the prices.

“There are so many medicines which are being used in some regions/provinces so the prices of around 5,500 medicines will be increased in each region,” he said. Pakistan Drug Lawyers Forum President Dr Noor Mahar said the Drug Act 1976 was formulated to ensure the availability of medicines at economical rates to every citizen and Drap Act 2012 aimed at ensuring an effective enforcement of the Drug Act 1976.

“However, Drap has been accommodating the pharmaceutical industry rather than protecting the interests of the citizens. Though the prices would be increased by an overall 3pc, due to the cumulative effect the prices will go up by 15pc. For example, if the price of a medicine being sold for Rs100 is increased by Rs3 and another medicine having the same formula is available at Rs10, the price of the latter will also be increased by Rs3,” he said.

He said Drap should have challenged the decision of the single-member bench of the SHC.

Pakistan Young Pharmacist Association General Secretary Dr Hina Shaukat said the prime minister should take notice and ensure that the drug prices are not increased.

“We are formulating a transparent and patient-friendly pricing policy, which will be presented to the prime minister and the standing committees on health of the Senate and National Assembly,” she said.

Published in Dawn, September 8th, 2017