Govt approves prices for 52 advanced life-saving drugs

The Pakistan government has approved prices for 52 new essential medicines including those used to treat diseases including cancer, hypertension, diabetes, and respiratory conditions, as well as vaccines for infections. The move will likely improve access of patients to the advanced drugs. “A Cabinet Committee constituted by the Prime Minister for drug pricing that was recently chaired by Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Muhammad Aurangzeb set pricing for the 52 new molecules to be made available in the market soon, ” Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (PPMA) former chairman Dr Kaiser Waheed said while talking to Business Recorder. With this, the total number of essential medicines that have received the government nod for pricing in the past four months stands at 87. Earlier in April 2026, the government had approved and notified pricing for 35 medicines. Pharmaceutical companies are awaiting an official notification on the approved prices for the latest 52 medicines, as formal implementation of the regulated pricing will allow them to begin manufacturing and importing the medicines, Waheed said, the process of which could take at least one to two months. The regulated pricing and issuance of the awaited notification will help improve the availability of several high-priority therapies that had remained inaccessible due to prolonged delays in price fixation, forcing patients to either go without treatment or depend on costly and often unregulated smuggled medicines, industry officials said. PPMA former chairman Tauqeer Ul Haq said patients will be the biggest beneficiary of the approved medicines, as they will be able to receive advanced treatment for cancer, hypertension and diabetes and more. The awaited notification will also allow the pharmaceutical industry to export such medicines to other countries, he added. The Cabinet Committee took up the pricing matter on recommendations made by the Drug Pricing Committee and the Policy Board of the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP). The meeting was attended by Federal Minister for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, Mustafa Kamal and Federal Minister for Defense Production, Muhammad Raza Hayat Harraj, according to a press statement issued by the government. The Committee received a detailed presentation from DRAP on recommendations relating to new drug price fixation, hardship cases (special consideration on a medicine’s approved price because the existing price is no longer financially viable) and the availability of essential medicines. “Aurangzeb emphasized that drug pricing decisions be transparent, evidence-based with consultative approach and guided by the broader public interest, ” the statement said. “He underscored the importance of balancing patient access to essential medicines with the sustainability of pharmaceutical supply and affordability for patients. He also highlighted the need for clear public engagement to explain the rationale behind decisions affecting critical medicines. ” The government continues to retain its authority to set, review and revise prices for essential medicines. However, In February 2024, it allowed pharmaceutical manufacturers to determine prices for non-essential medicines and compete on the basis of quality and pricing of medicines. The decision to deregulate prices of non-essential medicines has benefited patients by improving the availability of medicines and curbing the black market, where shortages previously drove the prices of some therapies to several times their official retail rates, PPMA said. Federal Minister for National Health Services Syed Mustafa Kamal said last month Pakistan was close to achieving the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Level 3 certification in the upcoming months, which would enable the local pharmaceutical firms to expand their exports. Earlier, Pakistan’s pharmaceutical companies signed 10 memorandums of understanding with Chinese firms, paving the way for the local manufacturing of raw materials for medicines. The MoUs would help establish collaboration for vaccine production locally, transfer of technology, and attracting both foreign and domestic investment. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026

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