40 Essential Medicines Still Unavailable Across Pakistan

Nearly 40 medicines approved for registration in Pakistan are still missing from the market because the federal government has not yet finalized their official prices, delaying access to critical treatments for cancer, diabetes, and several other life-threatening conditions.

The affected medicines include cancer therapies like Pembrolizumab, Nivolumab, Irinotecan, Dasatinib, and Leucovorin, as well as Humador insulin, Adalimumab, recombinant Factor VIII, and Carbidopa-Levodopa.

The list also features anticoagulants Dabigatran and Heparin, the pregnancy-related hypertension drug Methyldopa, antibiotics including Meropenem and Fosfomycin, Ketamine, multiple vaccines, radiology contrast agents, and essential medicines commonly used in emergency rooms and intensive care units.

According to the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP), the Drug Pricing Committee completed its pricing recommendations between December 2024 and June 2025. These recommendations were approved by the DRAP Policy Board before being submitted to the federal government.

A cabinet committee led by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb later decided that both the finance and health ministers would first brief the prime minister before the pricing proposals are sent back for final approval.

Pakistan Chemists and Druggists Association Chairman Abdul Samad Buddani cautioned that the continued shortage is forcing many patients to rely on smuggled, counterfeit, or low-quality medicines.

The Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association also called for immediate action, stressing that pharmaceutical companies are legally barred from selling these medicines until the government officially notifies their approved prices.