ISLAMABAD, Dec 09 (APP): Parliamentary Secretary for National Health Services Nausheen Hamid Monday told the National Assembly that the present government increased retail prices of medicines by nine percent as determined under hardship category and by 15 percent over and above the existing maximum retail prices under Drug Pricing Policy, 2018. Speaking during the question hour, she said the federal government had approved the list of medicines whose prices had been increased under hardship category. The reasons for increase in prices of drugs were 28 percent devaluation of Pakistani rupee in 2018, rise in prices of raw materials and packaging materials of drugs in China due to closure of plants on account of environmental reasons, she added. She said these reasons affected the availability of medicines and vaccines in the country. Therefore, the federal government and Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) allowed increase in prices of drugs to ensure availability of life saving medicines in the market, she added. She said since July 01, 2016 annual increase in maximum retail prices of drugs had been linked with consumer price Index under drug pricing policy which was notified after approval of federal government. In July 2019, pharmaceutical companies availed increase … Continue reading Prices of medicines increased by 9, 15 percent under hardship category