The maximum retail price (MRP) of 89 generic drugs of various pharmaceuticals has been reduced by 15 percent, according to the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP).
In its direction issued on June 19, the DRAP directed that generic manufacturers are bound to reduce prices of their drugs by 15 percent from the approved MRPs of originator drugs under the Drugs Pricing Policy, 2015, according to the DRAP spokesperson. The policy clearly provides that any generic drug shall be at least 15 percent less than the MRP of originator brand and generic drug price cannot reach or exceed the price of an originator drug, he added.
The spokesman said DRAP has issued clear directions to pharmaceutical companies to reduce the MRPs of their higher priced generics up to the level as mentioned in the letter. “However, the pharmaceutical companies selling generic drug at lower price are not allowed to increase prices of their drug products. Non-compliance to the directions under the pricing policy is overcharging and legal action will be taken as per DRAP Act, 2012,” he warned.