DRAP launches crackdown against firms over illegal medicine price hike

ISLAMABAD: The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) on Saturday launched a countrywide crackdown against the pharmaceutical companies over unauthorised and illegal hike in prices of medicines.

Minister for Health Aamir Kiani took note of medicines being sold at high prices and directed the regulator to act against the pharma companies for illegally increasing the prices.

143 medicines being sold at inflated rates were seized while the pharmaceutical companies involved in illegal and authorised hike in prices of medicine were fined and barred from producing medicines until further orders.

Earlier, the health minister had said the government had decided to introduce an online system through which people would be able to verify the prices of medicines.

Talking to journalists, Kiani said the government had upped the ongoing drive against illegal hike in medicine prices, adding it was taking action against the pharmaceutical companies, who increased the prices of their products itself.

“I am personally looking into the matter and would not tolerate illegal and unauthorised increase in the prices of medicines.”

The minister said that some of the pharmaceutical companies had been allowed to increase prices but it was learnt that some others have increased it by themselves.

Aamer Mehmood Kiani said that he would not spare them, as patients suffered because of it.