ISLAMABAD – The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) has confirmed that prices for several life-saving and essential medicines will rise due to inflation-related adjustments. Pharmaceutical companies have requested price hikes, citing the increasing costs of raw materials and production, leading to an anticipated rise of around 3.14% for critical medications.
DRAP’s CEO, Obaidullah, stated that the price adjustments align with the Drug Pricing Policy, which allows for an annual increase based on the inflation rate as set by the Bureau of Statistics. While the hike is intended to ensure the continued availability of medicines, it is expected to place a strain on the budgets of many patients.
To address concerns and exceptional cases, Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar has formed a special inter-ministerial committee to review requests for price hikes above the standard increase. This committee, made up of the Finance Minister and the Federal Health Minister, is expected to submit recommendations to the Prime Minister within two weeks.
The price adjustments are slated to take effect between August and September 2025, following the conclusion of the review process. Despite the increase, the government assures that the move is necessary for maintaining the sustainability of the pharmaceutical sector while balancing the impact on public health.
This story has been reported by PakTribune. All rights reserved.