A parliamentary panel has been informed that reduction in prices of 5,000 medicines is in the pipeline following the federal government's intervention. The Senate Standing Committee on National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination met with Mian Muhammad Ateeq Shaikh in the chair here on Friday.
The committee chairman said that Prime Minister Imran Khan has lauded the efforts of the committee in reducing drug prices. He further said that price reduction of 5,000 medicines is in the pipeline. While taking up the issue of increased prices and low quality of drugs raised by Senator Kulsom Parveen, the committee recommended that details of tendering of chemists must be submitted. It also directed that a survey must be conducted to determine number of fake medicines in the market.
Discussing the import of medicines and vaccines from India, Senator Abdul Rehman Malik was of the view that in order to curb shortage of snake venom serum and rabies vaccines, it must be made mandatory for local manufacturers to produce these vaccines in addition to profit-making medical products that flood markets.
He said that it is a pity that medicines are being imported from India and China, when Pakistan is self-sufficient in medical raw material and that the vaccines manufactured here would be much more affordable in prices.
While discussing the progress on the Islamabad Compulsory Vaccination and Protection of Health Workers Bill moved by Senator Ayesha Raza Farooq, Ateeq Shaikh directed the ministry to accommodate all government proposed changes in the Bill and submit it to the committee next week. The ministry assured the committee that changes would be submitted by Friday (19 July, 2019).
While taking up the matter of increasing vaccine production at NIH, the committee was informed that a proposal to expand the Vaccines Centre at NIH was underway and that the Institute was currently producing 25,000 viols of snake venom serum and 100,000 viols of rabies vaccines which, once expanded, will increase to 100,000 and 700,000 respectively.
The committee took strict notice of lack of vaccines in provinces especially Sindh and Balochistan. The committee was informed that delay in payment from provinces led to vaccines shortage.
Ateeq Shaikh directed the NIH to submit SOPs for production and supply of vaccines to the committee. He also said that the Act must be reviewed and that rules must be mended so that federal and provincial health institutes may benefit from it.
Considering the point of public importance moved by Pakistan Cigarette, Pan and Cold Drink Retailers Association, the committee was informed that 700 families were out of income due to ban on display of cigarettes. Ateeq Shaikh directed the ministry that a middle way must be sought so that these families may be helped without violating international treaties.
He further stated that Sheesha bars in the country were closed due to the efforts of this committee four years ago but they (Sheesha bars) have made their way to homes now, which is regrettable.
The Health Ministry informed the committee that this was an administrative decision and that it was not involved in it.
While discussing the PMDC Bill 2019, the committee directed the organisation that details of procedures for appointment and recognition of honorary degrees must be submitted to the committee by next week.
The meeting was attended amongst others by Senator Manzoor Ahmed Kakar, Senator Dr Asad Ashraf, Senator Liaqat Khan Tarakai, Senator Dilawar Khan, Senator Abdul Rehman Malik, Senator Dr Ashok Kumar, Senator Sardar Muhammad Shafiq Tareen, Senator Dr Ghous Muhammad Niazi, Senator Kalsoom Parveen, Senator Rana Mahmood -ul-Hassan and senior officers from the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Services along with all concerned.
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