RECORDER REPORT

ISLAMABAD: Senate Standing Committee on National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination on Wednesday sought a report from the ministry to reduce prices of medicines.

The meeting of the committee was held here at the Parliament House with Senator Mian Muhammad Ateeq Shaikh in the chair.

The committee chairman said that an in-camera meeting of the committee would be convened after 10 days to discuss the matter of prices of medicines in the market. The additional secretary Ministry of Health told the committee members that prices of the medicines are not being increased and also informed the members about drug pricing policy. The committee chairman said that as per the drug pricing policy, the companies are allowed to raise the prices by seven percent which was completely unfair to the poor people.

He also pointed out a few medicines that were being sold in the open market at exorbitant rates, urging the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) to look into the issue.

The committee has also sought details about the appointment of CEO DRAP, including the advertisements for the vacancy published in newspapers.

The committee members were also briefed about the performance of Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) and admissions in private medical colleges.

Total annual budget of the PMDC is Rs 901 million and the organization has 212 employees, the committee was informed. There are 55 government medical colleges and 102 private medical colleges in the country. The committee was informed that admissions in all medical colleges are given under a central policy.