Senate panel raises alarm over medicine prices, formula milk advertising

ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Health on Thursday expressed concern over a sharp rise in medicine prices and what members described as the growing influence of the formula milk mafia, calling for tighter oversight and stronger legal measures to safeguard consumers and children’s health.

During a briefing to the committee, officials said the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) would be held on August 16, while final FSc examinations would conclude on July 20. Authorities told the panel that the government was taking serious steps to eliminate the mafia involved in MDCAT preparation in an effort to ensure a transparent and fair system for students.

On the issue of medicine pricing, Health Minister Mustafa Kamal told the committee that Pakistan was exporting pharmaceutical products to 51 countries and said deregulation of medicine prices was part of the government’s policy. He said the deregulation of medicine prices, which had remained pending for the past 15 years, had been implemented, after which the prices of some medicines went up.

The minister said the health ministry was continuously monitoring the situation and would act in cases where prices had risen excessively. He also told the committee that pharmaceutical companies could not be compelled to keep producing medicines at a loss for an indefinite period.

Drap report details price changes

The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (Drap) also submitted a report on medicine prices to the committee. Prices of more than 55% of non-essential medicines had increased.

424 out of 771 brands were being sold at rates higher than before, while 31 medicines registered price increases of more than 100%. 62 brands saw increases ranging from 50% to 100%.

At the same time, prices of 329 medicines had declined, while only 18 brands showed no change.

Drap’s chief executive officer informed the committee that 659 pharmaceutical companies were operating in Pakistan, while 394 firms were importing medicines and vaccines. The country’s pharmaceutical sector recorded total sales of Rs1.32 trillion last year, the committee was told.

Officials further said medicine prices had been deregulated during the caretaker government’s tenure and that, under the existing law, Drap could regulate prices only for life-saving essential medicines.

Concern over formula milk promotion

The committee also took up the issue of formula milk. The committee chairman described it as a mafia earning billions of rupees while putting children’s future at risk.

The panel directed the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) to ensure that formula milk advertisements prominently carry the disclaimer: There is no better food than mother's milk.

The discussion reflected the committee’s broader concern over consumer protection, medicine affordability and the regulation of products affecting child health.