‘Distribution companies reluctant to cut prices of medicines’

MULTAN: Pakistan Chemists Association divisional president Akhtar Butt has alleged that the drug distribution companies are reluctant to reduce rates of live saving drugs as notified by the government.Addressing a press conference here on Monday, the PCA divisional president alleged that the government’s claims regarding reduction in the prices of life saving drugs had totally proved false as the drug distribution companies were not ready to cut the prices of the medicines. He said that the government had announced reduction in medicines prices but it had proved eyewash. The situation had created problems for the poor patients, he lamented. He said that it was a collective failure that despite having a regulator, the government had allegedly failed to control this industry. Akhtar Butt said that there was no check on medicines drug rates in markets. He said that the pharmaceutical industry was entitled to get profit but there should be some limits to profiteering. The owners of the pharmaceutical factories earn billions of rupees profit on a single medicine every year, he told. He said that recently 200 to 300 per cent increase in the prices of medicines had been observed. He said that the state had announced increase in the prices of medicines upto 15 per cent, but the pharmaceutical companies on their own increased the rates upto 100pc. He said that medicines were the basic necessity of life, but after the price hike, it had become impossible for the citizens to buy these. He said that some companies promised to provide anti-cancer medicines on old rates but the medicines were selling at 15pc increased new rates. He said that it was the government’s responsibility to provide health facilities to its citizens and control prices of the medicines. He demanded the government take notice o the issue.

from The News International - National http://bit.ly/2MrUGqw