Around 40 Newly Registered Medicines Await Price Approval in Pakistan
Patients across Pakistan are facing delays in accessing several newly registered life-saving medicines as official retail prices for the products are still awaiting federal government approval.
Although the medicines have already received regulatory clearance from the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP), they cannot be legally sold until their maximum retail prices are officially notified.
Medicines for Serious Health Conditions
The pending medicines include treatments used for a wide range of medical conditions, including:
- Cancer
- Diabetes
- Hemophilia
- Parkinson’s disease
- Autoimmune disorders
- Blood clot prevention
- Severe bacterial infections
- High blood pressure during pregnancy
The list also includes vaccines, intensive care medicines, anesthesia products, and other essential hospital treatments.
Regulatory Process Completed
According to DRAP, pricing recommendations for these medicines were prepared by the Drug Pricing Committee between December 2024 and June 2025.
The recommendations were subsequently approved by the DRAP Policy Board and forwarded to the federal government for final approval. The official pricing notification is still pending.
Until that process is completed, pharmaceutical companies are not permitted to market the medicines in Pakistan.
Industry Calls for Faster Approval
Representatives from Pakistan’s pharmaceutical and pharmacy sectors have urged the government to complete the approval process as soon as possible.
They say timely price notifications would allow patients to obtain these medicines through licensed pharmacies instead of relying on unregulated supply channels.
Healthcare experts have also emphasized the importance of ensuring that patients receive quality-assured medicines through authorized distribution networks.
Government Says Process Is Underway
According to the Ministry of National Health Services, the government has already approved prices for an earlier group of 35 newly registered medicines, while the remaining 40 medicines are awaiting approval from the relevant cabinet committee and the federal cabinet.
Federal Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal acknowledged that patients are experiencing difficulties in accessing some newly registered medicines.
He clarified that the issue relates to approving prices for newly registered products rather than increasing the prices of medicines already available in the market.
Officials say the Ministry of National Health Services and DRAP are working to complete the remaining approvals so that the medicines can be legally supplied through regulated healthcare channels across Pakistan.
The approval process is expected to improve patient access to modern treatments while strengthening the availability of quality-assured medicines through licensed pharmacies.
