A Bold Reform Under Review Pakistan’s Drug Regulatory Authority (DRAP) is preparing to study whether physicians should be legally required to prescribe medicines by their generic names instead of brand names. This potential shift could mark one of the most significant reforms in the country’s healthcare system, aiming to reduce costs and dismantle entrenched pharmaceutical influence.

Why Generic Prescriptions Matter The move is being considered to address the conflict of interest between pharmaceutical companies and prescribers. By mandating generic prescriptions, DRAP hopes to:

  • Lower healthcare costs for patients
  • Minimize undue influence from pharmaceutical marketing
  • Reduce corruption in medical practice
  • Promote transparency and ethical prescribing

DRAP CEO Dr. Obaidullah confirmed that the study will begin after the completion of an ongoing review on the effects of medicine price deregulation, expected within ten days.

Senate Committee Pushes for Accountability The proposal was discussed during a heated session of the Senate Standing Committee on National Health Services, chaired by Senator Amir Waliuddin Chishti. Senators criticized the current system, accusing doctors of:

  • Writing unnecessary prescriptions
  • Recommending excessive diagnostic tests for commissions
  • Pushing cesarean deliveries without medical justification
  • Accepting perks such as foreign trips and luxury stays from pharmaceutical firms

Government’s Stance on Drug Pricing Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal defended recent price hikes, arguing that pharmaceutical companies are profit-driven businesses. He noted that 35 new essential medicines had their prices fixed, while 58 others received hardship-based increases. He also revealed that a law allowing prosecution of pharmaceutical CEOs for substandard drugs had been abolished to encourage investment.

Digital Reforms and Regulatory Efficiency Despite criticism, the minister highlighted progress in digitizing DRAP’s operations, including the registration of 180 medical devices within weeks. Timelines for approvals have been reduced to as little as 20 days, streamlining regulatory processes.

Senators Demand Structural Change Senator Sarmad Ali accused DRAP of systemic corruption, claiming its officials retire as billionaires. Others called for:

  • A ban on foreign trips funded by pharmaceutical companies
  • Data collection on unnecessary C-sections
  • Transparency in medical education and licensing through the PMDC portal

Healthcare Challenges Beyond Prescriptions The committee also addressed broader issues:

  • Dengue outbreak in Islamabad
  • Medical needs in flood-affected districts
  • Proposal to delay the MDCAT exam for students impacted by recent floods

Senator Rubina Khalid urged urgent action in devastated regions like Qambar, while Senator Mirza Muhammad Afridi advocated for fairness in exam scheduling.

Conclusion: Reform Hinges on Willpower As DRAP prepares to study generic prescribing, the spotlight remains on whether the regulator can withstand pressure from powerful pharmaceutical lobbies. If implemented, this policy could reshape Pakistan’s healthcare landscape—making treatment more affordable, ethical, and transparent.