ISLAMABAD: A subcommittee of Pakistan’s federal cabinet has approved the prices of 52 newly registered life-saving medicines, marking a significant step toward improving access to advanced treatments for patients across the country.
The meeting was chaired by Finance Minister Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb and attended by Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal, the Health Secretary, and officials from the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP).
According to officials, the approved medicines include treatments for cancer, diabetes, haemophilia, and Parkinson’s disease, addressing some of the country’s most critical healthcare needs.
The decision still requires final approval from the federal cabinet. Once endorsed, DRAP will issue an official notification of the approved prices, allowing the medicines to be legally marketed and sold in Pakistan.
Among the newly approved medicines is Keytruda (pembrolizumab), a modern immunotherapy drug widely used around the world to treat more than 20 types of cancer. The medicine is regarded as one of the leading immunotherapy treatments for a variety of advanced cancers.
Other medicines included in the approval are Nivolumab, Dasatinib, Meropenem, and insulin, all of which are used in the treatment of serious medical conditions. Nivolumab is another immunotherapy medicine used against several forms of cancer, Dasatinib is commonly prescribed for certain blood cancers, Meropenem is a broad-spectrum antibiotic used to treat severe bacterial infections, while insulin is essential for managing diabetes.
During the meeting, the Ministry of Health stressed the need for the swift approval of medicine prices due to the difficulties faced by patients in accessing essential treatments. Officials also emphasized that decisions regarding medicine pricing should remain transparent and be made in the broader public interest.
According to health authorities, prolonged delays in approving prices had left many patients with little choice but to rely on unregistered, smuggled, or expensive imported medicines, often increasing treatment costs and creating risks regarding the quality and authenticity of medicines.
Officials believe the latest decision will improve the availability of registered, quality-assured medicines in Pakistan while reducing dependence on illegal supply channels and unauthorized imports.
The government said the move is expected to strengthen the country’s healthcare system by ensuring that patients suffering from life-threatening and chronic illnesses have greater access to internationally recognized treatments through legal and regulated markets.
Once the federal cabinet grants final approval and DRAP issues the official pricing notification, pharmaceutical companies will be permitted to distribute and sell the medicines across Pakistan in accordance with national regulations. Authorities expect the decision to benefit thousands of patients requiring advanced therapies while promoting greater transparency in the pharmaceutical sector.
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