Govt decides to crackdown on drug manufacturing companies for overpricing

ISLAMABAD: The government has decided to launch a crackdown against those drug manufacturing companies which have increased prices on medicines in Pakistan from Saturday (today), ARY News reported.

The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP), in a letter sent to its provincial offices, has directed for crackdown on unauthorised increase in drug prices. The DRAP has also provided a list of the medicines being sold at higher rates.

The list includes names of at least 100 injections, tablets and syrups which have been made expensive, said sources.

Sources said most of the companies which were violating the law belonged to Karachi and Lahore. They said 145 companies including 21 big companies were involved in overpricing.

The DRAP letter has asked drug inspectors to verify prices from manufacturers as well as distributors.

It has asked to file cases against the violators under the DRAP Act 2012 and Drugs Act 1976.

Sources said up to 250 percent prices had been raised on hundreds of medicines.

“Some complaints have been received that unscrupulous elements in the pharma industry have increased prices of their drugs over and above approved maximum retail prices by the federal government.

“You are, therefore, advised to monitor MRPs in the market and ensure that drugs are not sold at higher prices than notified.

“In case of non-compliance, legal action may be taken against violators,” read the letter.