A sub-committee of the federal cabinet, chaired by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, has approved pricing for 52 life-saving medicines, signaling progress toward affordable access to critical treatments. Health Minister Mustafa Kamal emphasized that once finalized, the policy would bring cost-effective, high-quality medicines to patients across the nation.
“The approval remains pending the federal cabinet’s sign-off,” Kamal stated during a Dawn interview on Saturday.
The five-member subcommittee includes the health minister and represents cross-departmental coordination.
Asked about the regulatory framework, Kamal clarified two pricing mechanisms: temporary price increases triggered by production hardships, and permanent price caps for newly introduced drugs.
“All 52 medicines fall under the new molecule pricing category,” he noted.
The minister specified that most approved medicines either represent novel therapies or improved alternatives to existing treatments.
When pressed about the covered conditions, Kamal announced the portfolio includes cancer treatments, diabetes management drugs, and various vaccines.
With planned production timelines pending cabinet clearance, officials project that approved medicines would transition from manufacturing to patient access within months of formal authorization.
Published in Dawn, July 26th, 2026
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