ISLAMABAD — A leading anti-corruption watchdog has sounded the alarm over the staggering price gap between branded and generic medicines in Pakistan—some as high as 4,000%—and is urging the federal government to take immediate corrective action.
Transparency International Pakistan (TIP) has formally asked the Ministry of National Health Services to enforce a dormant policy that could drastically reduce drug costs and ease the financial burden on both the state and ordinary citizens.
Billions Lost to Branding: TIP Calls for Urgent Policy Shift
In a letter addressed to Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal, TIP pointed to the government’s failure to implement a 2021 directive from the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP), which instructed doctors to prescribe medicines using their generic names rather than brand names.
The watchdog claims that this oversight has allowed pharmaceutical companies to continue charging exorbitant prices for branded drugs that are chemically identical to much cheaper generics.
Real-World Examples: Same Drug, Drastically Different Prices
The report includes eye-opening examples. A generic version of Montelukast 10mg, commonly used to treat asthma and allergies, is available for just Rs3.07. Yet, branded versions of the same drug are being sold for Rs93—a 3,029% markup.
Even more stark is the case of Omeprazole 20mg, used to treat acid reflux. The generic sells for Rs1.70, while some branded options go for Rs67.85, marking an increase of nearly 4,000%.
And it’s not limited to those. Prices for Aspirin 300mg vary wildly from Rs47 to Rs300, depending solely on branding—not formulation.
Impact: Policy Inaction Hurting Millions
According to TIP, fully enforcing the generic prescribing policy could slash medicine costs by up to 90%, a potentially transformative shift for Pakistan’s healthcare system—particularly for low-income families already struggling with rising inflation and limited access to quality care.
Beyond lowering out-of-pocket expenses, TIP argues that a generics-first approach would reduce pressure on public hospitals, promote equal access to treatment across income groups, and encourage homegrown pharmaceutical production.
Next Steps: Enforce the Law or Risk Further Harm
The letter urges the government to act decisively: implement DRAP’s 2021 advisory across both public and private healthcare sectors, investigate why hospitals and clinics are ignoring the generic mandate, and reform procurement practices to prioritize cost-effective drug purchasing.
Without such reforms, TIP warns, Pakistan will continue to lose billions to unnecessary spending—while patients pay the price.
