ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on National Health Services and Regulations on Thursday advanced on major health reforms and pharmaceutical deregulation strategies. The Senate body also directed the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) to review the matter of the recent hike in medicine prices.
The standing committee met here under the chairmanship of Senator Amir Waliuddin Chishti to deliberate on critical legislative amendments and sector-wide performance reviews aimed at modernizing Pakistan’s healthcare infrastructure and regulatory frameworks. It emphasized that while private investment is appreciated, it must not come out of the poor and general public’s money.
Federal Minister for National Health Service, Mustafa Kamal, briefed the committee members, saying that significant progress was also reported in the pharmaceutical sector, with the Health Ministry confirming that a report on 50 percent deregulated medicines has been completed. He said that Pakistan currently exports medicines to 51 countries, and upon achieving the WHO Level 3 status is moving up from its current Level 2; consequently, the reach is expected to expand to 100 countries.
The committee was informed that market composition data revealed that 85 percent of medicines are manufactured locally by 659 companies, while 15 percent of medicines are imported by 394 importers. A survey of 771 brands representing the top 500 non-essential brands showed that 2.27 percent remained at pre-deregulation prices, 42.67 percent are sold below pre-deregulation rates, and 55.06 percent are sold above those rates, with 31 specific medicines seeing increases of up to 100 percent.
The committee members, while discussing the issue of the disclaimer “Mothers’ Milk is the Best” on all formula milk advertisements by the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP), the members expressed serious dissatisfaction with the response from the Ministry of National Health Services. The Chairman criticized formula milk companies for exerting undue influence and strongly condemned the department’s delaying tactics. Consequently, the committee mandated that a disclaimer stating “Mothers’ Milk is the Best “ must be added to all advertisements and directed that DRAP bring formula milk for infants aged 1–36 months under its regulatory domain, with a formal letter to be issued to PEMRA regarding advertising regulations.
The committee opposed any move to shift the regulation of breast milk substitutes from federal authorities to provincial food departments, arguing that provincial food authorities were already struggling to ensure safe and unadulterated milk for adults and could not be entrusted with regulating infant nutrition products also DRAP should write to PEMRA and formula milk marketing companies to ensure that every advertisement carries a clear message that breast milk is the best nutrition for a child and no substitutes are near in nutritional value.
The committee taking up the agenda regarding the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) on MDCAT decided to refer the matter to a sub-committee, directing it to finalize the report within two months. On behalf of the PMDC, the Minister informed the committee that MDCAT this year is scheduled for August 16 as the final date for student examinations will end by July 20 to ensure that students from every segment and institute across Pakistan can participate.
Regarding the Agenda of private member bill on Electric Nicotine Delivery systems, the committee noted with concern that despite all formalities being completed and recommendations endorsed, no proper compliance has been seen for a year.
Members of the committee reinforced the government’s commitment to prioritizing public health safeguards while fostering an environment of transparency, international compliance, and economic sustainability within the national health and pharmaceutical sectors.
The meeting was attended by Senators Syed Masroor, Sarmad Ali, Rahat Jamali, Samina Mumtaz Zehri, Agha Shahzaib Durrani, Nasir Mehmood Butt, and Anusha Rahman (on Zoom call), along with the Secretary of the Health Ministry and other senior officials.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026