ISLAMABAD: Fifty and more life-saving drugs are likely to disappear from the market as the caretaker cabinet may not be able to increase the prices.
There are pending cases with the federal cabinet of around 200 pharmaceutical companies which have taken the plea of hardship.
Syed Farooq Bukhari who heads Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (PPMA) stated that decisions about these pending cases will lead to ambiguity resulting in the black marketing of drugs.
The hardship cases can be defined as when companies narrate the dilemma about claim costs both manufacturing and retail price where the former exceeds the lateral.
Evidence is also placed before the authorities namely the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) and the Ministry of Health for the increase in prices. The decision is taken by the cabinet which has been pending since long.
An official from the Ministry of Health stated that it is unconfirmed whether the new cabinet will be able to take the decision on price or not as this will, in the long run, will ensure the availability of medicine for consumers.
Syed Farooq Bukhari who heads the PPMA stated that he has no idea caretaker government can take such a decision.
