Pharma markets face shortage of over 100 life-saving drugs

Patients in Pakistan are struggling to obtain treatment for cancer, hypertension and diabetes, as over 100 life-saving drugs have disappeared from the market. Business Recorder reported, citing drug makers and distributors, that the products have been withdrawn gradually over the past two years because rising expenses have outpaced retail prices. Producers now say that continuing to supply these medicines is no longer financially viable.

Manufacturers say they have repeatedly asked the government to raise medicine prices so output can resume, yet no decision has been made. Under the Drug Pricing Policy 2018, hardship cases should be decided within 60 to 90 days of filing, but applications have been unresolved for more than two years, according to Tauqeer Ul Haq, former chairman of the Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Association.

Haq believes the figure of close to 105 understates the problem, because manufacturers have stopped filing new hardship requests after earlier ones stalled. Kamran Nasir, senior vice chairman of the association, said DRAP and the Drug Pricing Committee have recommended new prices, but the cabinet has not acted on the summary despite repeated submissions. According to Nasir, a recent meeting with ministers agreed to raise the matter with the prime minister and recommend giving DRAP power to regulate prices immediately.