Ministry of Health has proposed heavy penalties and punishments for pharmaceutical companies, distributors and retailers allegedly involved in overcharging, illegal price hike and other violations for which summary would be moved to the Prime Minister for approval. Senate Standing Committee on National Health Services was held in the chairmanship of Senator Sajjad Hussain Turi on Wednesday.
Secretary Health Mohammad Ayub Sheikh told the committee that the health ministry is suggesting putting in place legislation for medicine manufacturing companies, distributors and retailers on overcharging, and draft of sentences will be soon sent to Prime Minister for approval.
He said for illegal increase in prices of drugs, a fine of Rs 10 million to Rs 100 million on Manufactures along with three year imprisonment, on Distributors Rs 10 million fine and two year imprisonment whereas Rs 0.1 million to Rs 1 million fine on Retailers with one year imprisonment is being suggested. He said five drug manufacture companies have sent a letter to the ministry for increasing prices. After 15 days of written intimation, the companies will be bound to increase prices.
He maintained that the Regulatory Board had also directed to the companies to submit written intimation before increase in the prices of medicines. He warned if any company doesn't comply with those directives, action will be taken against that company. During the committee meeting, Chairman Committee Sajjad Hussain Turi said the citizens in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas are deprived of basic health facilities due to unavailability of the health reforms in FATA.
Turi said that in FATA a Specialist Surgeon is drawing 75 thousand rupees salary and a General Medical Officer is pocketing 50 thousand rupees. If SAFRON and the Federal Ministry of Health cannot bring reforms regarding Health then where should we go for these reforms, Turi lamented. Chairman Committee expressed displeasure over absence of Director Health of FATA Secretariat from the committee meeting and summoned Secretary Health of FATA Secretariat with recommendations and suggestions about health reforms in the next meeting.
He suggested that the price of cigarette should be hiked to such an extent that it becomes out of reach of the common man so that smoking could be eliminated, which is hazardous to health. He said this move will also adversely affect the GDP, labour and owners connected with this industry.