Transparency International Pakistan Asks Govt to Implement Generic Medicine Policy to Save Billions

Transparency International Pakistan (TI Pakistan) has reiterated its call to the federal government to implement a generic medicine policy to ensure cost-effective access to essential medicines for citizens. In a formal letter addressed to Federal Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal, the organization emphasized the urgent need for enforcing the prescription of medicines by generic names and adopting the least-cost procurement method for registered drugs. Referring to its earlier communications with the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) and the Prime Minister’s Office in 2021, TI Pakistan highlighted the failure in the nationwide implementation of DRAP’s April 2021 advisory. The advisory instructed healthcare institutions and professionals in both public and private sectors to prescribe medicines by their generic names to alleviate the economic burden on patients and the state. TI Pakistan cited provisions under the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) Act, 2012, which mandate that all medicines be approved and registered solely by DRAP. Once approved, a drug’s quality and Maximum Retail Price (MRP) are standardized, making it unnecessary to prefer expensive branded alternatives. The organization presented a comparative pricing table for Aspirin 300mg, showing prices ranging from Rs. 80 to Rs. 150 per pack — a nearly fivefold difference for the same drug approved by DRAP. Such disparities, TI Pakistan argued, demonstrate the need for procurement based on the lowest cost among DRAP-approved options. “Implementation of this policy could save billions of rupees annually for the national exchequer and citizens,” the letter stated, calling for strict enforcement mechanisms to ensure compliance across the healthcare system. TI Pakistan urged the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination (MoNHSRC) to act promptly to ensure equitable access to affordable, quality-assured medicines for all.