ISLAMABAD: A number of important medicines — together with superior most cancers immunotherapy medication, vaccines and different life-saving therapies — stay unavailable within the nation because the federal authorities has but to finalise and notify their costs, regardless of suggestions from the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (Drap), healthcare professionals and pharmaceutical business representatives, The Information reported citing officers.
The officers stated the Drap Drug Pricing Committee (DPC) had already finalised costs for plenty of vital medicines, which have been subsequently endorsed by the Drap Coverage Board and afterward reviewed by a particular committee constituted by the prime minister and headed by Federal Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb.
Nonetheless, the federal cupboard has not but issued the statutory regulatory orders required to formally notify the costs.
Healthcare professionals warn that the delay is limiting remedy choices for 1000’s of sufferers affected by most cancers, infectious illnesses and different critical medical situations.
Among the many medicines awaiting worth notification are superior anti-cancer therapies corresponding to nivolumab and pembrolizumab, two immunotherapy medication which have considerably improved survival in a number of kinds of cancers by enabling the physique’s immune system to recognise and assault most cancers cells.
One other drugs awaiting worth approval is nilotinib hydrochloride, which is broadly used within the remedy of sure types of leukemia.
“These medicines at the moment are thought-about customary remedy in lots of cancers around the globe,” stated Dr Hira Ahmed, a senior oncologist at a serious tertiary care hospital. “When they don’t seem to be out there by regulated channels in Pakistan, sufferers are disadvantaged of contemporary therapies that would considerably enhance survival and high quality of life.”
Different medicines awaiting notification embrace tacrolimus hydrochloride used to forestall rejection in organ transplant sufferers and verapamil hydrochloride utilized in cardiac remedy. A number of vital vaccines together with the Typhoid Vi polysaccharide vaccine, poliomyelitis vaccine and pneumococcal vaccines used to forestall invasive bacterial infections are additionally pending worth notification.
As well as, human rabies immunoglobulin used within the administration of rabies publicity, recombinant human coagulation issue VIII utilized in haemophilia remedy, and the malaria remedy pyronaridine plus artesunate are additionally awaiting official worth fixation.
Semaglutide injection used for weight problems and diabetes administration and adalimumab used for autoimmune problems and sure cancers are additionally among the many medicines whose costs have been permitted by regulators however haven’t but been formally notified by the federal government.
Healthcare professionals say well timed entry to such medicines is crucial for bettering affected person outcomes and stopping avoidable issues and deaths.
Pharmaceutical business officers stated the difficulty will not be associated to a rise in drugs costs however reasonably the fixation of costs for brand new medicines to allow them to be legally marketed in Pakistan.
“With out official worth notification, firms can’t import or provide these medicines within the nation even when they’re permitted internationally and urgently wanted by sufferers,” a senior pharmaceutical business official stated.
They warn that delays in worth notification usually create a scenario by which sufferers try and acquire medicines by casual or smuggled channels.
“When medicines should not out there by regulated provide chains, the market usually sees the emergence of smuggled or falsified medication. These medicines could also be substandard, improperly saved or counterfeit, posing critical dangers to sufferers,” the official stated.
Trade representatives say the delay can be affecting Pakistan’s pharmaceutical export potential as a result of many importing international locations require {that a} drugs be registered and marketed in its nation of origin earlier than granting approval for import.
Based on business officers, the costs of a number of medicines have been finalised in the course of the 62nd assembly of the Drug Pricing Committee held in December 2024 however the SRO for these choices has not but been issued. Equally, one other DPC assembly held on December 7, 2025 additionally resulted in pricing choices that stay pending notification.
Officers at Drap confirmed that the pricing proposals for these medicines had already accomplished the regulatory overview course of. Based on Drap officers, the Drug Pricing Committee finalised the proposed costs and the Drap Coverage Board really useful them for approval earlier than forwarding the proposals to the federal authorities for notification.
“The regulatory course of inside Drap has largely been accomplished. The issuance of SROs by the federal authorities is required in order that these medicines may be legally marketed in Pakistan,” a Drap official stated.
Healthcare professionals and pharmaceutical business representatives have urged the federal authorities to expedite the notification of pending SROs, saying well timed availability of those life-saving medicines is crucial for sufferers and for strengthening Pakistan’s healthcare system.
