By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan government on Tuesday approved the reduction in prices of 20 medicines by up to 30 per cent to give relief to the ordinary person.
A press release issued by the federal health ministry said that on the recommendation of Federal Health Minister Abdul Qadir Patel, the federal cabinet had approved the reduction in the prices of 20 medicines. It said the costs of most drugs had been reduced by up to 30 per cent.
Reduction in prices of medicines
According to the statement, the prices of medicines used for treating blood pressure, cancer and eye diseases have been reduced. The press release said the federal cabinet also approved fixing the prices of 54 new medicines.
“We are determined to ensure effective measures to provide relief to the people. In the past, the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf-led government increased the prices of medicines by 700 per cent,” the press release quoted the health minister as saying.
The minister said that the government was determined to promote merit and transparency in the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan and ensure the uninterrupted supply of quality medicines for the people was their top priority.
He said that practical steps were being taken to improve the health sector, and “serving the public and providing medical facilities to them is their real mission”.
A spokesperson for the health ministry said that the reduction in prices of medicines was another step towards providing relief to the people.
