ISLAMABAD – Special Assistant to Prime Minister on National Health ServicesDr. Zafar Mirza has said that National Medicine Policy (NMP) is beingintroduced to regulate the prices of drugs on long-term basis.
Addressing a news conference in Islamabad on Thursday afternoon, he saidthe government is working on this policy in consultation with stockholdersof pharmaceutical industry.
The Special Assistant said the drugs prices were increased due toineffective policies of previous governments and the PTI led government istaking bold measures to control this menace. He said the Prime Minister hadannounced to take strict actions regarding high prices of 889 medicines inwhich prices of 395 medicines have been reduced and the direction of thePrime Minister will be implemented very soon.
He said that over 300 percent increase made in the prices of medicines isbeing brought down to 75 percent in consultation with pharmaceuticalindustry. He said the government will save 8 billion rupees after reductionin prices of 395 medicines and this amount will be returned to theconsumers by spending it on poor and deserving patients through FatalDisease Fund of Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal.
He said 9 percent increase in prices is also being withdrawn which wasfurther risen after fixing the prices on 15 percent increase. He said twobillion more rupees will saved after this withdrawal and limitation up to75 percent increase in prices.
Read Top Stories
The Special Assistant said the government is also working to support theindustry to increase its export ensuring availability of essential andlifesaving medicines in the market. He said availability of essential andlifesaving medicines will be ensured in the country at all cost.
Dr Zafar Mirza said Drug Regularity Authority of Pakistan is being made amodel Authority. He said working is also underway to revamp the publichospitals in Federal Capital Territory and a Model Medical System will beensured in future. He said DRAP is working on a study assessment toinvestigate the production standard of the medicines in Pakistan.
Special Assistant said that he will present 100-day performance report ofthe Health Ministry after completion of 100 days.
