ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on National Health Services on Wednesday directed the health ministry to protect public interest by keeping medicines affordable.

On the other hand, the representative body of doctors expressed deep concerns over an exuberant price hike in essential medicines’ prices over the last one year since the deregulatory policy regarding drug prices was implemented.

A meeting of the parliamentary committee was chaired by Senator Amir Waliuddin Chishti.

The committee reviewed the compliance report submitted by the health ministry which claimed that all possible efforts were being made to keep medicine prices affordable.

Pima shows concern over steep rise in prices

It recommended that while ensuring investor confidence and allowing a reasonable business margin, due consideration must also be given to protecting the interests of the common man so that essential medicines remain affordable.

It was further emphasised that wage increases and production costs should be reasonably justified, and that the ministry should review the activities of the SCR and ongoing research and development initiatives to promote transparency and efficiency in the pricing process.

Among those who were present were senators Dr Zarqa Suharwardy Taimur, Rubina Khalid, Samina Mumtaz Zehri, Anusha Rahman Ahmad Khan, Dilawar Khan and Syed Masroor Ahsan.

Health Minister Mustafa Kamal and senior officials from the concerned departments were also in attendance.

Medicine prices

Pakistan Islamic Medical Association (Pima) has expressed concerns over an exuberant price hike claiming that the significant increase in the cost of essential and commonly used medicines has placed an unbearable financial burden on patients, making even basic treatment unaffordable for many, including those from middle-income households.

Pima President Prof Atif Hafeez Siddiqui stated that the situation was particularly alarming given Pakistan’s chronically underfunded health sector, where less than one per cent of the GDP was allocated to healthcare.

“The combination of scarce public health resources and skyrocketing medicine prices has further restricted access to essential care,” he added.

He urged the government to take immediate corrective action in the public interest.

While investment and local manufacturing were important goals, they must not come at the expense of patients’ well-being.

The association has called for a comprehensive review of the deregulation framework and the introduction of effective mechanisms to ensure both affordability and availability of essential medicines across the country.

Published in Dawn, November 6th, 2025