Pakistan has moved a step closer to making dozens of new life-saving medicines available after a federal cabinet subcommittee approved the prices of 52 newly registered drugs.
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The meeting, chaired by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, was attended by Health Minister Mustafa Kamal, senior health officials and representatives of the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP).
The approved medicines include treatments for cancer, diabetes, haemophilia and Parkinson’s disease. Among them is Keytruda (pembrolizumab), a modern immunotherapy drug used worldwide to treat more than 20 types of cancer. Other approved medicines include nivolumab, dasatinib, meropenem and insulin.
The pricing decision will now be sent to the federal cabinet for final approval. Once approved, DRAP will issue an official price notification, allowing the medicines to be legally sold in Pakistan.
Health ministry officials stressed the need for swift approval, saying delays had forced many patients to rely on unregistered, smuggled or expensive imported medicines. They added that the decision is expected to improve access to quality treatments while reducing dependence on illegal drug supplies.
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The government also emphasized that the pricing process was carried out with a focus on transparency and public interest, aiming to ensure patients can obtain essential medicines through legal and regulated channels.