Key Takeaways
- Around 40 newly registered life-saving medicines remain unavailable in Pakistan due to delayed price approvals.
- The federal government has yet to finalize the maximum retail prices for these medicines, despite regulatory clearance.
- Patients with serious illnesses are forced to purchase expensive smuggled or unregistered drugs.
Around 40 newly registered life-saving medicines remain unavailable in Pakistan due to delayed price approvals by the federal government. These essential treatments, including advanced cancer therapies and diabetes medications, have already been cleared by the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) but are awaiting final pricing decisions.
According to Dawn, these medicines include Keytruda (Pembrolizumab), Humador insulin for diabetes, Adalimumab for autoimmune diseases, recombinant Factor VIII for haemophilia A, Carbidopa Levodopa for Parkinson’s disease, Dabigatran and Heparin for blood clot prevention, Methyldopa for hypertension during pregnancy, Meropenem and Fosfomycin for severe bacterial infections, Ketamine for anaesthesia, as well as several vaccines and intensive care medicines.
The Drug Pricing Committee had finalized recommendations between December 2024 and June 2025, which were approved by the DRAP Policy Board. However, these recommendations are still pending approval from the Cabinet Committee and the federal cabinet. The Ministry of National Health Services has already approved prices for an earlier batch of 35 newly registered medicines.
Pakistan Chemists and Druggists Association Chairman Abdul Samad Buddani expressed concern over the delay, stating that it forces patients to purchase medicines through informal channels, increasing the risk of counterfeit or improperly stored products. The Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (PPMA) also urged the government to expedite the approval process, noting that patients are being deprived of innovative treatments available in other countries.
Federal Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal acknowledged the issue and said it does not involve increasing prices for existing medicines but approving prices for newly registered drugs. He emphasized that the Ministry of National Health Services and DRAP are working to obtain approval from the Cabinet Committee and federal cabinet as quickly as possible, adding that patients deserve access to quality assured medicines through legal and regulated channels.
The delay in price approvals is causing significant distress among patients with serious illnesses who cannot afford expensive smuggled or unregistered drugs. The situation highlights the urgent need for the government to expedite the approval process to ensure patients have access to essential treatments.
The delay is forcing patients to purchase medicines through informal channels, increasing the risk of counterfeit or improperly stored products.
Abdul Samad Buddani, Chairman, Pakistan Chemists and Druggists Association
Patients are being deprived of innovative treatments that are routinely available in many other countries.
Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (PPMA), Urging government to expedite approval process
