Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations & Coordination and the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan deny all the allegations made by the Pakistan Drug Lawyers Forum which are factually incorrect and baseless and are totally misleading for some vested interests.
Mr. Usman owner of M/s Everest Pharma (Pakistan Drug Lawyers Forum) is involved in manufacturing and selling of un registered drugs/medicines like tablet Silk, Link, Decore, Ispar, Sancos, MTD, M Plus, Penball etc, and the DRAP has taken stern actions against him and other such culprits. The culprit is trying to hide behind the court shelter to avoid these stern actions and maligning the officers of DRAP.
Some elements are involved in country wide campaigns in media, court of law and high public offices and have started character assassination attempts and media trial of officials of DRAP and Ministry of NHSR&C for their illegal gains while some of them are involved in heinous crime of illegal manufacturing of banned sex drugs and unauthorized manufacturing of unregistered drugs and violations of licensing rules. Whenever, actions were initiated by DRAP against these elements, they attempt to pressurize officials of DRAP and Ministry, for their vested interests.
Drug Pricing Policy-2015 approved by the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet provides a transparent mechanism for fixation, and re-fixation in prices of drugs. In the Drug Pricing Policy-2015, there is provision in para 8 for annual price increase in prices of drugs and for transparency, fair practices and uniform application, this increase has been linked with Consumer Price Index (CPI) which is announced by Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, Government of Pakistan. Under this Policy, prices of drugs were kept frozen till 30th June, 2016. However, In July 2016, under provisions of the Drug Pricing Policy-2015, annual price increase @ 1.43% (50% of Consumer Price Index-CPI) for scheduled drugs, 2.002% (70% of CPI) for non-scheduled drugs and 2.86% (equal to CPI) for lower priced drugs has been allowed. In addition, as per provisions of the Policy, price increase, under hardship category, was allowed upto 8% on 20 drugs and in case of lower priced drug; Folic Acid Tablet price was increased from 30 paisa per tablet to 43.60 paisa per tablet (Rs.43.60 per 100 tablets) by the Federal Government as per Drug Act, 1976 to ensure their availability in the market.
M/o NHSR&C and DRAP have not recommended nor have a relation in regard to increase promotional budget of pharmaceutical companies from 5% to 10% under the Drugs Act, 1976 or DRAP Act, 2012. The proposals in the budget is for amendment in the Income Tax Ordinance 2001 is from Revenue / Finance Division which is under consideration of the Parliament. This is not related to Drugs Act, 1976 or DRAP Act, 2012. These blames are therefore, clear malafide and baseless and against the facts and near attempts against the Drugs Act, 1976, DRAP Act, 2012 and laws of the land.
It is reiterated that Federal Government, M/o NHSR&C and DRAP have not increased prices of drugs for the companies, contesting in the court of law. The fact is that during the last one year, 30 out of 700 pharmaceutical companies increased prices of 380 out of around 70,000 registered drugs without approval of the Federal Government and DRAP after managing to obtain restraining orders by these firms and their associations by
misleading the Sindh High Court at Karachi. DRAP and the Federal Government are vehemently contesting these cases with the assistance of the office of the Attorney General of Pakistan. After completion of arguments / counter arguments from both sides, single bench of the Honorable Sindh High Court, Karachi passed the judgment on 19-12-2016. Against these orders, the companies filed intra-court appeals and have again obtained restraining order from the double bench of the Sindh High Court. Federal Government and DRAP are vehemently contesting the cases in Sindh High Court with the assistance of the office of Attorney General of Pakistan to get stay orders vacated.
****
PREVIOUS NEXT
