Govt approves second increase in medicine prices in a month

The federal government has approved an increase in medicine prices of up to 35 percent according to a notification issued by the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP).

This is the second increase in medicine prices in the last month and affects 253 drugs according to a notification issued on October 5th but was made public today.

However, the President of Pakistan Drug Lawyers Forum (PDLF) spoke up against his hike in drug prices and demanded that the federal government take back their decision.

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The previous increase took place on 17th September when the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) issued a notification informing of increase in prices of 94 live-saving medincines.

At the time, Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) on Health Dr Faisal Sultan stated the hike in medicine prices was to ensure their availability and avoiding those life saving drugs being sold in the black market.

Regarding what the current notification states, the Special Assistant to Prime Minister Dr Shahbaz Gill argues these are new drugs whose prices are being fixed for the first time so it cannot be considered an increase.

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