ISLAMABAD : October 26,2022: The government has finally succumbed to the pressure exerted by Glaxo SmithKline (gsk) Pakistan and accepted its demand to increase the prices of its Panadol tablet and Panadol syrup by 64 % with immediate effect .
The decision to accept gsk demand to revise upward rates of Panadol tablet and Panadol syrup was taken here in a meeting with Finance minister , Ishaq Dar , with the representatives of gsk and other pharmaceutical companies .
A formal notification of the new rates of Panadol tablet and Panadol syrup was also issued on the same evening .
Ishaq Dar is known for his special relations with pharmaceutical companies .
For his sympathetic attitude toward industry , a delegation of Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (PPMA) had visited him in London a few weeks ago when the summary for 15% increase in drug rates was twicly rejected by the Shahbaz cabinet .
Since like other industries , pharma indsutry also operates in Pakistan like a pressure group , the manufacturers of the drugs first create shortage of a product and then they make a case for increase in the rates of their products
gsk Pakistan , the manufacturer of Panadol tablet , went a step ahead to blackmail the government and it stopped production of Panadol tablets exactly at a time when Pakistan is facing severe dengue and fever like a pandemic in flood hit areas and patients badly needed Panadol tablet and syrup to get saved from the health hazards.
As per the notification,
Panadol 500 mg price has been increased to 2.75 from Rs 1.10 per tablet . The new price of 10 tablets has been fixed at Rs 27.50 . Its previous price was Rs 17.10 for a strip of 10 tablets . It makes 64 % increase in the price of Panadol tablet forthwith.
gsk , the manufacturer of panadol tablet had demanded 150 % increase in the rates of its product .
Another sad side of the story is that the black marketieers were making money at will by selling a strip of a Panadol tablets for Rs 100. In some areas, the consumers were being forced by the black marketieers to sell the Panadol even at more than 100 rupee for a 10-tablet strip . DRAP remained totally non movers to stop black marketing of Panadol tablets.
Drug Lawyer Forum president, Noor Mahar , has called upon the drug inspectors and Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) officials that they should make sure that the consumers get Panadol tablets for their use for treatment of dengue and fever at fixed rates . He said after the revised prices , the manufacturers are also left with no excuse not to ensure sufficient supply of Panadol tablets in the market .
