ISLAMABAD: Three days after the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) announced its decision to initiate an inquiry into the alleged involvement of Minister for National Health Services (NHS) Saira Afzal Tarar in inflated prices of medicines, the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (Drap) on Thursday reduced prices by up to 41pc.

The authority said a notification in this regard would be issued in the coming week.

“There is a wrong impression that Drap only increases prices. The truth is that Drap has reduced prices of a number of brands having high sale volumes through implementation of the drug pricing policy,” said a statement issued by Drap. On Nov 18, 2013, through a notification Drap increased the prices of medicines (apart from the life-saving drugs) by 15pc.

The very next day, the then prime minister Nawaz Sharif ordered the authority to withdraw the notification. However, the notification provided an opportunity to a number of companies to seek a stay order from courts.

Decision comes three days after NAB announced to probe minister for alleged corruption in fixing of drug prices

On Feb 20, NAB ordered an inquiry against Ms Tarar and some officials of her ministry for alleged corruption in fixing of the drug prices etc.

A few weeks ago, NAB also launched an inquiry into the appointment of an officer of grade 19 on the grade 21 post of the chief executive officer of Drap.

The statement claimed that the government had introduced a transparent way through the drug pricing policy for increasing prices as well as decreasing the maximum retail prices (MRP).

“Drap notified the Drug Pricing Policy 2015 with approval of its policy board, the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet and the federal government. This policy provides a transparent mechanism for fixation, decrease and increase in prices of drugs,” it stated.

On the recommendation of the authority, the federal cabinet has approved reduction in the MRP of originator brands of over 59 products by up to 10pc, it added.

Originator brands are those that are originally manufactured/invented by a company after research. Such a company is allowed to sell the drugs at higher prices compared to those who sell copies of the drugs.

“These brands include Zantac tablets and injection, Risperdal tablets, Concord tablets, Cefspan capsules and suspension, Fortum injections, Ciproxin tablets and infusion, Canesten-V tablets and cream, Caflam tablets, Zovirax injection, tablets and cream, Amikin injection, Imuran tablets, Neupogen injections, Prozac syrup, Engirex B injection, Cravit tablets, Singulair tablets and sachets, Cell Cept tablets, Losec infusion, Tamiflu capsules, Taxol injection, Eprex injection. The notification to this affect shall be issued in coming week.”

Besides, Drap said it had reduced the MRP of Lencentus injection from Rs98,000 to Rs58,800 and fixed the prices of anti-hepatitis drugs – Daclatasvir, Sofosbuvir + Velpatasvir tablets. Drap also fixed prices of generics of anti-cancer drugs namely Erlotinib tablets, Geftinib tablets and Transuzumab injection.

“Drap is trying to bring prices of medicines down by various strategies, including registering generic medicines at low prices etc. Marketing of new products will enhance competition and availability of drugs in the market.”

Published in Dawn, February 23rd, 2018