Kiani directs special audit of DRAP with regard to prices

ISLAMABAD: Minister for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination Aamer Mehmood Kiani has directed to conduct special audit of Drug Regulatory Authority (DRA) with regard to prices, Radio Pakistan reported.

As per details, the Ministry of National Health Services has written a letter to the Auditor General of Pakistan in this regard.

The minister said the audit was aimed at ensuring access of masses possible to the low cost and standardized medicines.

Last week, Kiani had said the government was committed to control the illegal price hike of medicines while warning a strict action against the pharmaceutical companies who were violating the rules.

Explaining about the recent surge in drug price, he said the official hike was about 15-19 per cent because of increasing dollar rate. He added that the present drug policy was approved by the previous government on the directive of the Supreme Court.

Kiani said drug industry was worth of 1.3 trillion dollars and providing employment to millions of people in the country.

In a countrywide action against unauthorised and illegal hike in prices of medicine, the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) had claimed to have seized stocks of 83 medicines and registered cases against 28 pharmaceutical companies.