Cancer, Diabetes and Heart Disease Drugs Among Newly Approved Medicines as Government Moves to Improve Availability
The federal government has approved prices for 52 new essential medicines, including advanced treatments for cancer, hypertension, diabetes and respiratory diseases, along with vaccines for infectious illnesses.
The approval is expected to pave the way for these medicines to enter the Pakistani market after the issuance of the official price notification.
The decision was taken by the Cabinet Committee on Drug Pricing, formed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and recently chaired by Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Muhammad Aurangzeb.
With this latest approval, the government has cleared prices for a total of 87 new essential medicines within the past four months.
Pharmaceutical Companies Await Official Notification
The government had earlier approved prices for 35 medicines in April 2026. However, pharmaceutical companies are still waiting for the formal notification of the newly approved 52 medicines.
Once the notification is issued, companies will be able to begin manufacturing, importing and supplying these medicines in Pakistan.
Industry representatives said the process of bringing the medicines to pharmacies and hospitals could take one to two months after the official approval is published.
Delayed Pricing Limited Access to Advanced Treatments
Pharmaceutical industry officials said delays in fixing prices of advanced medicines had affected their availability in the country.
They said many patients requiring specialized treatments faced difficulties because certain medicines were either unavailable or had to be purchased through expensive alternative channels.
Some patients were reportedly forced to depend on costly imported medicines, including products brought through unofficial routes, due to the absence of officially approved prices.
Industry representatives said the new approvals would improve access for patients suffering from serious diseases, particularly those requiring long-term and specialized treatment.
Patients With Serious Diseases Expected to Benefit
Former Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association chairman Tauqeer Ul Haq said patients would be the biggest beneficiaries of the government’s decision.
He highlighted that people suffering from cancer, hypertension and diabetes would especially benefit from the availability of these medicines.
He added that official price approval would not only improve domestic availability but also enable pharmaceutical companies to export these medicines to international markets.
Committee Reviews Drug Pricing Recommendations
The Cabinet Committee reviewed recommendations presented by the Drug Pricing Committee and the Policy Board of the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP).
The meeting was attended by Federal Minister for National Health Services Syed Mustafa Kamal and Federal Minister for Defence Production Muhammad Raza Hayat Harraj.
DRAP officials provided a detailed briefing on new drug price fixation, hardship cases and the availability of essential medicines.
The committee also examined issues related to balancing affordable healthcare access with maintaining a stable pharmaceutical supply chain.
Government Calls for Transparent Drug Pricing System
Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb emphasised that drug pricing decisions should be transparent, evidence-based and made through consultation with relevant stakeholders.
He said the government’s priority was to ensure that patients have access to necessary medicines while also supporting the sustainability of the pharmaceutical industry.
The approval of the 52 medicines marks another step in the government’s efforts to expand access to essential healthcare treatments and address shortages of advanced therapies in Pakistan.
