ISLAMABAD: As Imran goverment does not show even least concern to rising prices of drugs, the mafia of pharma manufacturers have hit yet another time to jack-up the prices of essential lifesaving medicines..
Since this latest increase in essential medicines prices has been done under 2018 Drug Pricing Policy , the manufacturers did not need any prior approval of the concerned authorities.
All what the manufacturers of drugs needed to simply do to jack-up the prices was to inform the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP).
DRAP is literally in pocket of powerful pharma industry. Its top bosses are literally watching interest of the drug mafia rather than looking for the people’s interest.
DRAP chief executive officer is holding the office on look after basis for over two years now. His masters in federal cabinet are arranging extension for 90 days since 2018.
Last time DRAP look after CEO was granted extension for another 90 days when he was found guilty of getting induction in DRAP through cheating and then elevating himself as DRAP CEO through cheating again.
What magic look after DRAP CEO has as he is getting extension for keep grabbing this important position for over two years another question might boggle your mind as to why the federal cabinet is protecting a man to hold DRAP CEO office whose appointment was found unlawful?
Its prime minister, Imran Khan, who can answer these disturbing questions. He is the man who as PM chairs the federal cabinet meetings.
NEWSMAN has investigated the issue of repeated upward revision in drug prices in last three years of Imran Khan rule. Its powerful mafia of pharmaceutical companies, which got inducted Asim Rauf as look after CEO in 2018 when his predecessor , Akhtar Hussain, again a man with dubious credentials and a cinfident of pharma industry was removed as CEO DRAP on the court order.
These two characters… Akhtar Hussain and Asim Rauf, are not only abusing their official position but also they are direct beneficiaries of upward revision in medicine prices as they allegedly have their business of mrdicines.
Both ( Akhtar Hussain and Asif Rauf) have close link with some highups in Imran government and that link is securing extension for Asim Rauf to keep looking after ‘affairs’ of DRAP.
Many in pharma industry of Pakistan strongly believe that first Akhtar Hussain and now Asim Rauf has provided benefit of over 1000 billion rupee to pharma industry through time and again jacking up prices of lifesaving drugs.
Those who know inside story of repeated increase in drug prices in Imran Khan rule also believe that the pharma industry mafia shares some percentage of their money made through repeated increases in the prices of drugs and for the same a group of federal ministers is securing extensions of look after DRAP CEO for Asim Rauf.
But the question is why Imran Khan as PM and chairman of the federal cabinet approved over 12 extensions for Asim Rauf and is he not aware of that agony through which the patiants undergo as a result of 400 % increase in essential drug prices in his rule?
Noor Mahar, president of Lawyers Drug Forum seconded findings of NEWSMAN investigative work on the issue in hand.
In his reaction to recent increase of 11 percent in lifesaving drugs prices, Noor Mahar said ” With latest increase of 11 % in drug prices , accumulative increase in drug price reached to 400 % percent since May 2018 when Imran Khan came in power.
He demanded of the prime minister to check who are those ministers who support extension in look after charge of DRAP for Asim Rauf.
Noor Mahar alleged that Asim Rauf was colluding with pharma industry mafia to help them make hundreds of billions of rupee through upward revision in drug prices.
