ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The Pharmaceutical Companies have decided not to increase drug prices in the first quarter of the financial year 2020-21 in support of the government’s initiative to provide relief to the people amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to a Ministry of National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination (NHSRC) Spokesperson, the Pharmaceutical Companies under the Drug Pricing Policy 2018 can increase prices of essential drugs by 7 percent and non-essential drugs by 10 percent in accordance with the annual consumer price index (CPI).
The Spokesperson said that the government proactively took measures by keeping the prices static by interacting with the Pharma Industry in order to alleviate the suffering of the people during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Now following the decision by the Pharmaceutical Companies, all medicines will remain available at old prices in the first quarter of the ongoing financial year 2020-21.
Meanwhile, the government has appreciated and commended the decision of the Pharmaceutical Companies and importers to stand with the government to provide relief to the people of Pakistan in this difficult time.