ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: President Mamnoon Hussain on Tuesday said the prices of medicines should be within the purchasing power of the masses so that low-income group could also avail health facilities.
Talking to Secretary Ministry of National Health Services Muhammad Ayub Sheikh at the Aiwan-e-Sadr in Islamabad, the president called for early operationalization of laboratory for verification of locally manufactured medicines from World Health Organization (WHO) to enhance export of medicines.
The president said various countries were interested in buying medicine from Pakistan, however pharmaceutical exports were not increasing due to non-verification from WHO.
Mamnoon Hussain commended the efforts of the ministry in establishing drug testing laboratories in Islamabad and Lahore according to the standards of WHO and stressed the need for their early completion.
Expressing satisfaction over manufacturing and availability of lifesaving drug for Hepatitis C on low price, he emphasized on manufacturing other essential drugs as well.
The Secretary Health Muhammad Ayub Sheikh apprised the president about the policy of the ministry regarding the prices of medicines.
Muhammad Ayub Sheikh informed that work on establishing laboratories in Islamabad and Karachi was progressing at a rapid pace in line with WHO standards.
