'Pharma cos raise prices arbitrarily'

With reference to the news item dated 10.04.11, entitled "Pharma cos raise prices arbitrarily", by Tahir Amin, we would like to put forward clarifications to some details. GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) is constantly striving towards excellence in quality and responsibility towards our consumers and society.
Following the adoption of the Montreal Protocol by the United Nations, the production and usage of Chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) emitting products have been restricted all over the world due to their harmful effects on the environment. CFC gases, and specifically the chlorine which they contain, have been implicated in causing depletion of the ozone layer, which shields the earth from harmful ultraviolet radiation from the sun. In turn, ozone depletion has been linked to the increasing incidence of malignant melanoma, other skin cancers and cataracts, as well as changes in the climate.
In light of this, GSK has globally switched from the production and sales of CFC-based inhalers to more environment-friendly HydroFluoroAlkane (HFA) based inhalers. In line with our global commitment, GSK Pakistan also ceased production of CFC based inhalers in December 2009.
For the convenience of asthmatic patients, GSK has introduced a CFC free HFA-based Salbutamol inhaler Aerolin EvohalerTM so that patients have access to a GSK Salbutamol inhaler even after CFC based production is phased out. Aerolin EvohalerTM (Salbutamol) offers the same trusted benefits of VentolinTM inhaler with additional environmentally friendly properties and is widely available at pharmacists throughout Pakistan. In addition, residual stocks of CFC containing VentolinTM inhalers are also being supplied for sale at chemists at the retail price of Rs 100. We hope that this provides some clarity on the matter.