Latest news with #PPMA
Business Recorder
01-08-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Non-essential drugs: Medicines widely available after deregulation
KARACHI: Nearly all medicines required by Pakistani patients are now widely available at local pharmacies, following the government's move to deregulate prices of non-essential drugs, industry representative said. Officials, pharmaceutical industry representatives, and health experts say the decision has effectively ended years of chronic shortages and curbed black-market profiteering. They said the policy shift has restored patient access to life-saving treatments, reduced counterfeit drugs, and revived confidence in the pharmaceutical supply chain. Pharmaceutical manufacturers, speaking to journalists in Karachi, said deregulation reversed a crisis that had left patients scrambling for basic and critical medicines. 'For a long time, essential drugs like insulin, tuberculosis treatments, and even over-the-counter painkillers such as Panadol were missing from pharmacies because their government-fixed prices were far below production cost,' said Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufactur-ers Association (PPMA) Chairman Tauqeer ul Haq. He explained that with inflation, currency devaluation, and rising global raw material costs, production at the old rates became impossible. 'A tablet that cost Rs 3 to the patient couldn't be manufactured even at that price. Deregulation allowed the same tablet to be priced at Rs. 6, which brought it back to the market,' he said. Health experts also endorsed the change, saying it reduced black-market exploitation and improved the supply of quality medicines. Deregulation, introduced at the end of 2023, applies only to non-essential medicines, while more than 460 essential drugs remain under strict government price control to safeguard affordability. Even provincial drug administration officials across all four provinces and federally administered regions confirmed that nearly all medicines are now available in the market. They said shortages that previously created space for counterfeit products have largely been eliminated. A joint survey by PPMA and Pharma Bureau, supported by a recent IQVIA report, found that post-deregulation prices for the top 100 pharmaceutical brands increased by an average of 16.5 percent. Industry officials clarified, however, that much of this rise came from prior hardship price adjustments and new product introductions rather than deregulation alone. According to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, the Consumer Price Index for medicines in June 2025 showed urban prices rising by 13.05 percent and rural prices by 15.3 perent—still lower than inflation in many other sectors. Officials highlighted that previously scarce drugs, including anti-epileptics, psychiatric medicines, and certain cancer therapies, are now widely available. Unit sales of medicines have also improved, with IQVIA reporting a rise in market volume growth from 0.8 percent in 2023 to 3.6 percent this year. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
18-06-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
TDAP and PPMA discuss formation of PHARMEX
KARACHI: A high-level meeting between the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) and the Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (PPMA) was held at TDAP Headquarters, Karachi Tuesday. The meeting, chaired by Chief Executive TDAP Faiz Ahmad Chadhar, focused on the way forward for the establishment of PHARMEX – a proposed Pharmaceutical Export Promotion Company dedicated to accelerating and facilitating the growth of Pakistan's pharmaceutical exports. Senior officials from TDAP and leading office bearers of PPMA, including Chairman Tauqeer ul Haq and Chairperson (South) Dr Mahwash Khan, attended the session. The participants deliberated on the potential of the pharmaceutical sector to expand into international markets and the urgent need for a specialized export promotion platform like PHARMEX. The Chairman PPMA informed the meeting that the proposal for PHARMEX had already been shared with the Ministry of Commerce and the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC). A final draft working paper, including the proposed Memorandum and Articles of Association, was submitted on 2nd May 2025. Following discussions chaired by the Minister for Commerce on 4th June 2025, it was decided that PHARMEX will be placed under TDAP for execution and oversight. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Arab News
15-06-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Pakistan launches new pharma export council to boost overseas sales
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has this month established a new Pharmaceutical Export Promotion Council (PharmEx Pakistan) in a bid to expand exports and enhance the global competitiveness of its drug manufacturers, the country's commerce minister said. Pakistan's pharmaceutical industry, valued at about $4 billion domestically, has recorded steady growth in exports in recent years but remains a relatively small player globally. Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan announced the formation of the new council under the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) while addressing a gathering organized by the Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Association (PPMA) earlier this month. 'The pharmaceutical sector has huge export potential, and PharmEx Pakistan is just one or two steps away from becoming operational,' Khan was quoted as saying by state-run Pakistan Television, adding that the government would continue to facilitate the industry in achieving higher international sales. At the event, PPMA Chairman Touqeer ul Haq said the new council would work as a public-private initiative to strengthen compliance with international standards, improve market access, and showcase Pakistani products abroad. Haq identified Afghanistan as a critical export destination and welcomed minister Khan's assurance of better coordination to keep cross-border trade smooth. In addition to the new council, the government will also set up an Exporter Facilitation Desk at the ministry of commerce to resolve urgent problems faced by pharma exporters and ensure direct support when needed, minister Khan said. The setting up of PharmEx is part of Islamabad's broader push to diversify exports beyond traditional sectors such as textiles, rice and sports goods, amid persistent current account pressures and the need to earn more foreign exchange. According to PPMA data, pharmaceutical exports increased from $270 million in 2020–21 to about $355 million in the current fiscal year 2024–25, and industry leaders say the country has the potential to reach $3 billion in annual exports if regulatory hurdles and market access barriers are addressed. Pakistan produces over 90 percent of its medicines locally, supplying a large portion of the country's health care needs and serving niche markets in Afghanistan, Central Asia and parts of Africa and the Middle East. The industry, however, faces challenges such as high input costs, regulatory bottlenecks, and tough global competition.
Business Recorder
05-06-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Local pharma industry: Govt urged to create conducive environment
ISLAMABAD: The All Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (PPMA) has urged the government to create conducive environment for the local pharma industry so that it can enhance exports, create more jobs, and better serve the country. The pharma industry presented their demands to the Federal Minister for National Health Services and Regulations, Syed Mustafa Kamal, during a meeting here on Wednesday. Both the sides deliberated on key matters related to the pharmaceutical sector, including amendments in drug rules, indigenous production of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs), and the expansion of export opportunities particularly in the context of bilateral collaboration with Afghanistan. During the meeting, the minister emphasised the government's commitment to fostering the local pharmaceutical manufacturing industry and reiterated the strategic importance of domestic API production. 'We must work jointly to ensure local production of APIs, not only to reduce reliance on imports and save valuable foreign exchange reserves, but also to unlock the export potential of our pharmaceutical products,' the minister stated. To advance this vision, the federal minister directed the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) to develop a comprehensive concept note on the establishment of a Naphtha Cracker facility. This initiative aims to promote self-sufficiency in the production of essential raw materials for the pharmaceutical industry. Furthermore, the minister reaffirmed the government's resolve to eradicate the menace of counterfeit medicines from the market. 'We are introducing a modern trace and track system whereby a unique bar code will be printed on every medicine. This system will allow patients to verify the authenticity and retail price of any medicine using their mobile phones,' the minister added. The PPMA chairman highlighted that Pakistan's pharmaceutical exports currently stood over $450 million, but with government backing, this figure could cross $2 billion dollars within next two years. The minister acknowledged the immense potential for pharmaceutical exports, particularly in markets across South-West Asia and Central Asia. He encouraged the PPMA to submit a comprehensive proposal to enhance exports, assuring them that the ministry would provide the necessary support. The meeting concluded with a mutual understanding to strengthen public-private partnerships, streamline regulatory frameworks, and jointly pursue strategic initiatives to enhance pharmaceutical manufacturing, ensure medicine quality, and promote exports. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
05-06-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Jam Kamal unveils new pharma export council
Listen to article Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan has reaffirmed the government's resolve to boost pharmaceutical exports, announcing the near-operational launch of PharmEx Pakistan — a new Pharma Export Promotion Council — under the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP). "The pharmaceutical sector has huge export potential, and PharmEx Pakistan is just one or two steps away from becoming operational," the minister said on Wednesday, while praising the industry's rapid growth. He assured continued government support to help the sector meet international export targets. Speaking during a presentation by Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Association (PPMA) Chairman Touqeerul Haq, the commerce minister also expressed optimism about trade with Afghanistan, noting that "with every passing day, our relations are growing stronger and more streamlined — pharmaceutical exports will rise accordingly." Haq briefed the commerce minister on PharmEx Pakistan, a new public-private initiative designed to manage and promote pharmaceutical exports. He credited the minister's swift action on urgent issues for preventing significant financial losses in the sector and projected that PharmEx Pakistan could help raise exports from $700 million to $3 billion. The push builds on steady sectoral growth. According to industry figures, pharmaceutical exports climbed from $270 million in 2020-21 to $355 million in 2024-25. PharmEx Pakistan is expected to improve regulatory compliance, expand international market access, and enhance global visibility for Pakistani pharmaceutical products. To further aid exporters, the commerce minister announced a dedicated Exporter Facilitation Desk within the ministry to address time-sensitive matters requiring direct government intervention. Separately, the federal minister for national health services met with a PPMA delegation to discuss critical sector issues, including amendments to drug rules, local production of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs), and enhanced bilateral trade with Afghanistan. He stressed the importance of fostering the local pharmaceutical manufacturing industry and reiterated the strategic importance of domestic API production. The minister directed the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) to develop a concept note on establishing a Naphtha Cracker facility, a key step toward self-sufficiency in pharmaceutical raw materials. To ensure drug quality, the health minister also announced a new trace and track system using barcodes for medicine verification via mobile phones.
