"The PTI government will fully support the pharmaceutical industry and efforts will be made to produce raw material used in manufacturing medicines locally in an attempt to reduce imports." Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmeen Rashid said this while speaking to reporters after visiting the Pak Pharma & Healthcare Expo 2019 at the Expo Centre on Wednesday.
She said: "The governmental steps will not only enhance pharma exports, but will also help reduce prices of drugs." She added that the government was focusing on the health of infants and mothers, adding that five new maternity centres are also being established.
Congratulating the organizers of the Expo, the minister said the government would provide each possible support to the pharma industry. She was of the view that production of raw material in Pakistan could improve the economic viability of the pharma industry. "The initiative can also lead to reduction prices of drugs and enhancement in pharmaceutical exports. We do have each type of skills and only need to merge them," she said. Responding to a question, the minister said the energy policy took wrong turns in the past as gas supplied to the transport sector could have been provided to the industry.