Islamabad-The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan clarified that increase in prices of drugs was neither on the agenda nor recommended during a two-day meeting of the drug pricing committee.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the DRAP said that meeting of the committee was held on December 6 and 7. Representative from Ministry of Finance, Ministry of NHSRC and provincial health departments attended the meeting in addition to officers of Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan.
The meeting did not take up any recommendation regarding increase in prices of drugs as the same was not on the agenda, the statement said. Instead, the agenda and working papers were examined and discussed in accordance with provisions of the Drug Pricing Policy-2015.
The committee recommended prices of drugs for new therapies and generics of existing drugs for patients suffering from Hepatitis-B and C, cancer, lung infections, asthma, Parkinson disease, epilepsy, diabetes, osteoporosis, hypertension, vaccines for diphtheria, tetanus and Hepatitis A, the statement said.
Drug Regulatory Authority said that innovative treatments and vaccines would be available to patients of Hepatitis A, B & C and cancer. Marketing of generic drugs at reduced prices would enhance competition and availability of drugs in the market.