Non availability & non affordability of Life Saving Medicines
Source Biotech Connection
The irrationalilty of the Drug Pricing Policy 2018 has lead to non-availability of medicines on account of being under priced at one end as well as non-affordability due to over pricing of numerous essential and life saving medicines in Pakistan . Higher prices of speciality products leads to non-affordability of drugs and pharmaceutical products for the general public which enhances burden of health on the public and private health sector. The existing lower price structure of certain medicines is a disincentive for pharmaceutical manufacturers and importers.
The drug regulatory agency of the USA takes around a decade to approve a drug to enter the market and it may cost the manufacturer almost $ 1 billion in the process besides the anxiety caused to the company management. It is imperative that the Federal Ministry of Health and Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) rationalize the drug pricing mechanism to overcome this sensitive issue. Such rationalization of drug pricing on priority will make life saving products available at economically viable prices and patients will not compromise on quality of life (QoL) .Due to essential medicines being sold at exorbitant rates the prevalence of disease is on the higher side thereby increasing the socio-economic burden on the common man.It is high time time for the health regulatory authorities to wake up in the public interest.
Dr Sajjad Javed
Law & Policy Expert
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