Medicine prices to increase by 18%

The government has made a principal decision to allow an 18% increase in medicine prices. The official notification for this price increase is expected to be issued within 10 days. The Drug Pricing Committee held an important meeting in Islamabad on Monday 18th November. The government officials forum requested for a ten-days time margin before increasing prices.

After this meeting, the Executive Director and Secretary General of Pakistan Pharmaceutical Association - Khwaja Javed Akbar stated that; The prices of essential medicines have not been increased since the year 2000, and it has now become impossible for pharmaceutical companies to continue selling drugs at such low prices. If the government does not issue a notification for pharma price increase urgently, the companies will be forced to reduce production, and soon a severe shortage of drugs will occur in the market.