Minister of State for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination Saira Afzal Tarar on Tuesday informed the Senate that out of total 612, prices of only 177 medicines were allowed to increase under hardship cases.
Responding to a calling attention notice raised by Mian Muhammad Ateeq Shaikh about the decision of the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) about 8 per cent increase in the prices of medicines, she said these hardships cases had been pending since 2011. Keeping in view the court order and hardship cases, it was decided to increase the prices of only 177 medicines.
She said a transparent mechanism was adopted for increasing medicine prices.
