PM orders to withdraw hike in medicine prices immediately

BusinessPM orders to withdraw hike in medicine prices immediately

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Friday directed the authorities concerned to withdraw the recent increase in medicine prices immediately, terming it as unacceptable.

In a statement‚ the prime minister said that increase in the prices of medicines is not acceptable and it should be withdrawn immediately.

The federal ministry of health on Thursday had notified a 2 to 15 per cent hike in prices of around 30,000 medicines of varied nature with immediate effect. However, the prices of life-saving drugs were not increased.

The sources said that the pharmaceutical firms had demanded the hike in the prices of various categories of medicines.

The federal secretary Imtiaz Inayat Elahi had said that the hike had been given on a limited number of medicines and it would have not affected prices of 22 lifesaving drugs – medications for hepatitis, ulcer, cancer, blood pressure, diabetes, asthma, kidney and heart related ailments, and antibiotics.

The federal secretary had further said that the pharmaceutical sector had been demanding a 97 per cent increase, since it was struggling to absorb a 100 per cent surge in production costs.

However, health experts had termed the move extremely unfair, saying it would lift drug prices up by 15 per cent in a one go.

Must read

Recent News

“Ustad Bashiruddin- A Restrained Grace” and “Bleeding Borders”

“Ustad Bashiruddin- A Restrained Grace” and “Bleeding Borders”

0
Lahore, Pakistan: In connection with the celebrations marking 150 years of Mayo School of Arts and National College of Arts, Lahore, Pakistan, the opening...

Indus Shield-Chinese concluded

0
Monitoring Desk: Indus Shield-Chinese, a bilateral module of Exercise Indus Shield 2024, being conducted separately between Chinese and Pakistan forces has concluded at an...

Mushaal writes to Rahul Gandhi to save Yasin’s life

0
Islamabad, Pakistan: Mushaal Hussein Mullick, wife of jailed Kashmiri leader Mohammad Yasin Malik, has made a heartfelt plea to Rahul Gandhi, India's opposition leader,...
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi has arrived in Pakistan today on a two-day official visit and he will hold meetings with civil and military leadership of Pakistan. This is his first visit to Pakistan after Israel attacked Iran in response to Iranian attack on certain Israeli cities. His meetings with Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and Deputy Prime Minister / Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar are confirmed. Foreign Minister Araghchi will hold consultations on the situation in the Middle East and Pakistan-Iran bilateral relations. This visit provides an important opportunity to advance cooperation and dialogue between Pakistan and Iran on a wide range of areas including trade, economic, energy and security.

Iranian FM Araghchi and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar showed commitment to work jointly in...

0
Islamabad, Pakistan: Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar while addressing a joint presser showed their commitment to...

Active community engagement is central for stronger ties between Pakistan and the UAE, believes...

0
Islamabad, Pakistan: "One of the challenges we face is that a segment of people misuse tourist visas to seek jobs illegally, or, in some...
Advertisement