ISLAMABAD: The Pakis­tan Pharmaceutical Manu­facturers’ Association (PPMA) on Wednesday welcomed the formation of a committee for resolution of drug pricing issues prevailing in the industry.

The industry claims that hardship cases and price increases were not up to the mark when compared to the huge cost increase and pressures faced by drug manufacturers.

The hardship cases are those in which companies cla­­im that the production cost is more than the maximum retail price.

According to a notification, Prime Minister She­hbaz Sharif had constituted the panel to propose a way forward/report on the pri­ce increase request of PPMA with immediate effect.

The 18-member committee has seven members from the government’s side and 11 members from drug manufacturers’ side.

The government’s members of the committee are Federal Fin­a­n­­ce Minister Senator Ish­aq Dar, Health Minister Ab­­dul Qadir Patel, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Ahad Khan Cheema, Dr Muhammad Jehanzeb Khan, Health Secretary Fakhre Alam and the Secretary of Board of Investment.

Members from the pharmaceutical industry are PPMA Chairman Farooq Bu­­khari, Chairperson of Phar­­ma Bureau Erum Shakir Rahim, Osman Khalid Waheed, Syed Wajeehuddin, Zahid Saeed, Mian Khalid Misbah-ur-Rehman, Ayesha Tammy Haq, Tauqeer ul Haq, Qazi Mansoor, Asad Shujaur Rehman and Farhan Haroon.

Published in Dawn, December 1st, 2022