Historic reforms introduced in DRAP during current govt: minister
ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said on Tuesday that the reforms introduced in the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) during the current government were unprecedented.
Speaking in the National Assembly, the minister said the issue of a reported shortage of influenza vaccines in the country would be taken up with the relevant ministries.
The matter was raised by Dr Sharmila Faruqui on a point of order. Responding to her concerns, Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry termed the issue important and asked her to provide details of the reported shortage so that it could be brought to the attention of the Ministry of Law and the Ministry of Health.
He reiterated that “historic reforms” had been introduced in DRAP during the current government.
National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq directed Dr Faruqui to submit the details of the matter in writing, which would subsequently be brought to the notice of the relevant ministers.
Earlier, Sharmila Faruqui raised the serious issue of the shortage and non-availability of essential and life-saving medicines across Pakistan.
She said that price-revision cases of 105 hardship-category medicines have remained pending at the federal government level for more than two years despite recommendations by DRAP’s Drug Pricing Committee. She pointed out that several critical medicines used for cancer treatment, cardiac emergencies, severe pain management, paediatric cardiac conditions and glaucoma are reported to be unavailable or in critically short supply.
Dr Faruqi also drew the attention of the House to the separate issue of newly registered life-saving medicines that have remained unavailable through legal channels due to delays in price fixation. She noted that the Cabinet Committee on Drug Pricing approved prices for 52 newly registered life-saving medicines on 24th July 2026, but final approval and notification must be expedited to ensure their availability to patients.
Responding to the issue, National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq sought details and the list of medicines facing shortages. He said that the matter be taken up urgently with the Federal Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination and the Federal Cabinet.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026