Pakistan approves prices of 52 new life-saving medicines

The approved medicines include treatments for cancer, diabetes, haemophilia, and Parkinson’s disease, addressing a wide range of critical health conditions

ISLAMABAD: (UrduPoint/UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News-July 25th, 2026) A Federal cabinet subcommittee has approved the prices of 52 newly registered life-saving medicines, paving the way for their legal sale in Pakistan once the federal cabinet grants final approval.

The meeting, chaired by Finance Minister Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, was attended by Health Minister Mustafa Kamal, senior officials from the Ministry of National Health Services, and the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP).

The approved medicines include treatments for cancer, diabetes, haemophilia, and Parkinson’s disease, addressing a wide range of critical health conditions.

The pricing decision will now be presented to the federal cabinet for final endorsement. Following cabinet approval, DRAP will issue an official price notification, after which the medicines can be legally marketed and sold across the country.

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Among the medicines approved is Keytruda, an advanced immunotherapy drug used worldwide to treat more than 20 types of cancer. Other approved medicines include Nivolumab, Dasatinib, Meropenem, and various insulin formulations.

During the meeting, the Ministry of Health emphasised the need for swift approval of medicine prices to ease difficulties faced by patients, while also calling for greater transparency and decisions that serve the public interest.

Officials said delays in approving prices had forced many patients to rely on unregistered, smuggled, or costly imported medicines. They added that the latest decision is expected to improve access to quality medicines, reduce dependence on illegal supplies, and strengthen the availability of essential treatments in Pakistan.