PYPA: Fiyat deregülasyonu sonrası 5 ilaç firması Pakistan'dan ayrıldı

5 pharma firms left Pakistan after deregulation of prices: PYPA

ISLAMABAD: Representatives of the Pakistan Young Pharmacist Association (PYPA) and other stakeholders on Monday claimed that five multinational pharmaceutical companies left Pakistan after the government’s mandatory control on medicine prices was lifted about two years ago, resulting in an estimated $5 billion loss to the country’s economy. Speaking at a news conference, they said almost 500 allopathic pharma manufacturing units were operational in Pakistan for decades but they had been mostly relying on imported raw material, a major chunk from India. PYPA President Dr Hina Shaukat claimed that Glaxo was manufacturing various pharma raw materials in Lahore in the 1980-90s and then it shifted its raw material manufacturing to India. “BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) has closed its manufacturing unit in Gujranwala, now M/s ASTO Life Sciences is selling all of the BD’s products in Pakistan. Most lethal diseases like Aids and Hepatitis etc. are spreading through substandard unsterilised syringes and medical devices across Pakistan. Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (Drap) does not have a testing facility for medical devices,” she added. Some companies made JVs due to which they were unable to continue functioning in Pakistan, says Drap chief PYPA Chairman Mohammad Usman Hundal said the Punjab government was purchasing medicines at up to 4000 per cent lower rates compared to the open market. Sharing the details, he claimed that the medicine price list of the Punjab Health Department showed that per unit price of Omeprazole 20mg (purchased by the Punjab government) was Rs1.7, but the same formula medicine, namely Losec 20mg (available in the open market), was being sold at Rs67.85. Similarly, he claimed that Monelukast 10mg tab was being purchased by Punjab government at Rs3.07 but the same having the brand name of Singulair was available for Rs93. Esitalopram 10mg is purchased for Rs2.93 but Cipralex 10mg is being sold for Rs100 in the open market. Pregabalin 75mg cap costing Rs6.21 was being sold for Rs143.67 with a name of Lyrica 75mg in the open market. “Atorvastatin 20mg tab has govt’s price Rs2.73 but is being sold for Rs55 in the open market under the brand name of Lipiget 20mg. Similarly, there are huge differences in prices of medicines like Ceftriaxine 1gram injection which is being sold as Rocephin 1g, Tobramycin + dexamethsone ED and Tobradex ED, Losartan potassium 50mg cap and Xavor 50mg, Fluconazole 150mg cap and Diflocan 150mg, Glimipride 2mg tab and Evopride 2mg, Moxifloxacin 400mg inj and Avelox inj, and Omprazole inj 40mg and Risek in the open market.” He said it was unfortunate that Drap’s control over medicine prices was removed by the caretaker federal cabinet on February 6, 2024. He urged the decision makers to ensure that the prices were regulated by the government. He said multinational companies such as Lundbeck, Novartis and Pfizer had left Pakistan. Speaking on the occasion, Advocate High Court Liaquat John said pharmaceutical companies were profit-making organisations, so they do not believe in charity. “How can we assume that pharma companies would reduce their profits or business,” he asked. He said PML-N and the PPP always focused on welfare of poor patients and claimed to provide free medicines in government hospitals. “If medicine prices would increase by 10 times on an average then it would be almost impossible for our government to arrange free medicines in government hospitals,” he warned. Auditor Lahore Bar Association Rahila Hafeez Rana and Advocate High Court Sara Mumtaz also spoke on the occasion. When contacted, Drap Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr Obaidullah Malik told Dawn that it was not correct that multinational companies left Pakistan because of the policies of the government or the regulatory authority. “Some of the companies have made joint ventures due to which they were not able to continue functioning in Pakistan. Others have decided to quit from the region so that they would focus in Europe and other continents/regions,” he said. Replying to a question regarding a huge difference between prices in the open market and prices on which government purchases medicines, Dr Malik said although the question was related to pharma companies, as per his information and knowledge a number of companies sell their products to government hospitals at breakeven points or even at lower rates so that their medicine would become popular/acceptable among the masses and professors start prescribing them. Published in Dawn, July 21st, 2026