News
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Govt to introduce new pricing mechanism for drugs: Firdaus* Minister says stakeholders being consulted
* MQM senator Haseeb Khan says drugs being sold at very high prices
Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on National Regulations and Services was informed on Tuesday that preparations had been made to submit a summary in the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) for introduction of a new pricing mechanism for drugs.
National Regulations and Services Minister Dr Firdaus Ashiq Awan said this while responding to a query by Senator Abdul Haseeb Khan in a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on National Regulations and Services. “For formulation of a new pricing mechanism, the ministry is in close contact with the stakeholders, including the pharmaceutical sector,” the meeting was informed.
The standing committee meeting was chaired by Senator Zafar Ali Shah. National Regulations and Services Secretary Imtiaz Anayat Elahi, Senator Karim Ahmed Khwaja, Senator Almas Parveen and Senator Khalida Parveen attended the meeting.
Firdaus said, “The Drug Regulatory Authority Ordinance (DRAO) will expire in October 2012, and we want a proper legislation to give it the shape of an act before it expires. The pharmaceutical sector is growing gradually at a rate of 20 percent. Foreign investment in Pakistan has decreased but the pharmaceutical sector is the only sector which is bringing new investment.”
“We have decided to re-inspect and re-assess those 19 medical colleges that have already been registered across the country to ensure transparency in each case,” she said. The minister claimed that the candidates shortlisted after the advertisement published for the appointment of a chief executive officer (CEO) for DRA, were having numerous recommendation letters with them, while the ministry wanted selection on purely merit basis. “The advertisement for the appointment of a CEO will be published again in newspapers in order to select a candidate on merit basis,” the meeting was informed.
Imtiyaz Anayat told the committee that after devolution of the Ministry of Health, various functions of health which could not be transferred to provinces had to be retained with the federal government.
The Drug Regulatory Agency of Pakistan, Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC), Pharmacy Council of Pakistan, Pakistan Council for Nursing, National Council for Homeopathy, National Council for Tibb, Directorate of Central Health Establishment, Central Board of Film Censors, Pakistan Red Crescent Society, and Pakistan College of Physicians and Surgeons are the departments under the newly established National Regulations and Services Ministry.
MQM Senator Haseeb Khan said, “There are around 1,000 medicines that are being sold at high prices and have a considerable difference between the cost of production and the price at which these are being sold in the domestic market.”
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk