Around 40 Registered Life-Saving Medicines Await Price Approval in Pakistan
Patients across Pakistan continue to face difficulties accessing dozens of newly registered life-saving medicines as official retail prices for the products are still awaiting government approval.
According to health officials and industry representatives, nearly 40 medicines have already been registered by the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) but cannot be legally sold until the federal government issues their approved maximum retail prices.
Medicines for Serious Diseases Affected
The pending medicines include treatments used for a range of serious health conditions, including:
- Various forms of 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, radiology products, and other essential hospital treatments.
Registration Completed, Pricing Still Pending
Officials said the medicines successfully completed the required regulatory review process and were approved for registration by DRAP. Recommendations for their pricing were prepared by the Drug Pricing Committee and later endorsed by the DRAP Policy Board before being forwarded to the federal government for final approval.
However, until official prices are notified, pharmaceutical companies are not legally permitted to market or distribute these medicines in Pakistan.
Patients Face Limited Options
Health experts and pharmacy representatives say the delay has made it difficult for many patients to obtain prescribed medicines through licensed pharmacies.
As a result, some patients and their families may seek medicines through informal or unauthorized sources, where product quality, storage conditions, and authenticity may be difficult to verify.
Industry representatives have urged the government to complete the pricing process as soon as possible so patients can access approved medicines through legal and regulated supply chains.
Government Says Approval Process Is Underway
Federal Minister for National Health Services Syed Mustafa Kamal acknowledged that patients are facing challenges in obtaining several newly registered medicines.
He said the issue relates to pricing approval for new medicines rather than changes to the prices of medicines already available in the market.
According to the minister, the federal government has already approved prices for an earlier group of 35 newly registered medicines, while the remaining medicines are currently awaiting approval from the relevant cabinet committees and the federal cabinet.
Officials say the government is working to complete the approval process so that patients can access quality-assured medicines through licensed pharmacies as soon as possible.
Healthcare stakeholders have emphasized that timely availability of approved medicines is important for improving patient care and ensuring access to regulated treatment options across the country.
