TI Pakistan Calls for Generic Medicine Policy to Lower Healthcare Costs
Transparency International Pakistan (TI Pakistan) has once again urged the federal government to implement a nationwide generic medicine policy, aiming to provide affordable and quality medicines for all citizens.
Formal Request to Federal Health Minister
In a letter addressed to Federal Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal, TI Pakistan stressed the urgent need for:
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Mandatory prescription of medicines by generic names
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Adoption of least-cost procurement methods for all registered drugs
The move is intended to reduce the financial burden on patients and optimize public healthcare spending.
Previous Recommendations Ignored
TI Pakistan referenced its earlier appeals to the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) and the Prime Minister’s Office back in 2021. The group criticized the lack of implementation of the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) advisory from April 2021, which instructed both public and private healthcare providers to prescribe medicines using generic names only.
DRAP Act 2012: The Legal Basis
Under the DRAP Act, 2012, all medicines in Pakistan must be:
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Approved and registered by DRAP
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Assigned a Maximum Retail Price (MRP)
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Subject to strict quality control
TI Pakistan argued that once a medicine is DRAP-approved, there is no justification for prescribing higher-priced branded versions, as quality and pricing are already regulated.
Price Comparison Highlights Inefficiencies
To demonstrate the issue, TI Pakistan shared a pricing table for Aspirin 300mg, revealing:
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Prices ranged from Rs. 80 to Rs. 150 per pack
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A nearly 5x price difference for the same approved medication
This example underscores the need for procurement based on lowest-cost options within DRAP-approved alternatives.
Huge Savings Potential
According to TI Pakistan, implementing a generic prescription policy could:
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Save billions of rupees annually for the government and citizens
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Improve access to essential medicines across all socioeconomic groups
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Enhance efficiency in healthcare spending
Call to Action: Time for Enforcement
TI Pakistan has called on the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination (MoNHSRC) to:
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Enforce the generic medicine advisory
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Monitor compliance in both public and private sectors
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Promote equitable access to affordable healthcare
With rising healthcare costs and limited resources, this policy shift could offer a sustainable solution to ensure quality, affordability, and accessibility in Pakistan’s healthcare system.
