The prime minister should take strict notice of skyrocketing drug prices in Pakistan with a stringent demand for answers, said Senator Mian Muhammad Ateeq Shaikh, on Friday.
He was speaking as the chairman of the Senate Committee of National Health Services Regulation and Coordination in a meeting held at Parliament House.
Those present on the occasion included Senators Dr Ghous Muhammad Khan Niazi; Ayesha Raza Farooq; Dilawar Khan; Dr Ashok Kumar; Sana Jamali; Liaqat Khan Tarakai; Dr Asad Ashraf; Dr Sikandar Mandhro and senior officers of the Ministry of National Health Services Regulations and Coordination along with its attached departments.
Senator Shaikh believed that owing elevation in drug prices to hardship cases was a mere excuse, The cost of the product should be considered before resorting to any such measures, he added.
Senators showed grave displeasure at the absence of the National Health Services Regulation and Coordination Minister, Aamir Mehmood Kiyani, and remarked he owed to brief the committee on his four-hour long meeting with Drug Regulatory Authority Of Pakistan (DRAP).
While discussing the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) Ordinance being tabled in the House, the Committee raised concerns over the absence of the body’s president. It also warned of strict actions if he was not present in the next meeting. Members of the committee were of the view that no posting, transfers or appointments must be conducted against this order.
The chairman noted that numerous changes would be made in the Ordinance once it was vetted in the parliament.
Ad-hoc appointments of key personnel affect overall quality: Senator Ayesha
Discussing constitutional bodies, Senator Ayesha Raza Farooq stressed upon the need to curb the trend of ad-hoc appointments, as previously seen in the case of National Institute of Health (NIH) and DRAP.
She believed promotions must take place from within the line while attributing delayed appointments and bringing in senior personnel from outside to serious administrative issues, which affected the overall quality.
National Health Services Regulation and Coordination Secretary, Zahid Saeed, also informed the committee regarding all such appointments and noted they were made through a very transparent process.
However, he also admitted that there had been issues as seen in the case of DRAP CEO, who has been asked to stop work due to his controversial degree. The CEO’s credentials are neither recognised in Pakistan nor Sri Lanka, where they were bestowed upon him, Saeed maintained.
He said that an interim appointment had been made from within the ranks.
Senator Dr Ashok Kumar remarked that all details of the contentious appointment, along with the decisions taken by him, must be submitted to the committee in the next meeting.
Committee Chairman said that a one-point agenda was needed to discuss the price regulation of medicines in Pakistan. He called it a grave issue, which should be probed in great depth.
Zahid Saeed also appraised the committee in this regard and noted a task force had been formed.
The chairman had also been requested to review the drug price list, after which new recommendations could be made and presented in the House, he added.
Senator Sheikh announced to write a letter to the prime minister; requesting him to investigate the matter in detail.
The committee also stressed the need for the minister to attend the meeting and provide details in this regard.
The meeting was also presented with a sub-committee report on the point of public importance, raised by Senator Kulsoom Parveen, on substandard medicines.
The members decided to deliberate upon PSDP in the next meeting.