PM Khan calls for drug prices reduction

After consultation with all the stakeholders, Prime Minister Imran Khan has directed the relevant authorities to bring down prices of drugs.

Following a cabinet meeting, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Information Firdous Ashiq Awan said a meeting with the representatives of pharmaceutical companies and other stakeholders will be held soon to bring down the prices of medicines.

“The additional amount charged by the pharmaceutical companies will be recovered by the government and deposited with the Pakistan Bait-ul-Maal and utilised to provide free treatment to poor patients suffering from various diseases,” she said.

National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Chairman Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal has also taken notice of the unprecedented increase in the prices of medicines and has constituted an investigation against the alleged corruption in Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination and Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP).

According to a NAB spokesman, he said the abrupt increase of up to 300 percent in the prices had taken essential medicines out of the reach of the common man