ISLAMABAD: A sub-committee of the federal cabinet, headed by Fin­ance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, has approved the prices of 52 life-saving drugs, prompting Health Minister Mustafa Kamal to say that patients would finally have access to cheaper and better-quality medicines.

“However, the approval is subject to the final approval of the federal cabinet,” Mr Kamal said while speaking to Dawn on Saturday.

The sub-committee, headed by Mr Aurangzeb, has five members, including the health minister.

Replying to a question, Mr Kamal said that there were two categories under which medicine prices could be increased. “The first category is hardship [under which prices are increased when production becomes unviable due to rising production costs], and the second category is only the fixation of prices for new molecules.

“All 52 medicines were placed under the price-fixation category,” he said.

The federal health minister said that the majority of the molecules were either new to the market or alternatives to some of the existing molecules.

When asked about the nature of the medicines, he told Dawn that they were intended to treat a range of diseases, including cancer and diabetes, and also included vaccines.

“If the federal cabinet approves these medicines, the public will have access to cheaper, high-quality medicines in the market,” he said, while expressing the hope that the cabinet would give approval.

“Once they are approved, production will begin, and they will be made available to consumers,” the federal health minister said.

Published in Dawn, July 26th, 2026