By Asad Cheema
ISLAMABAD: President Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) Muhammad Ahmed Waheed has said that negative propaganda against pharmaceutical industry of the country would damage it and stressed that such tactics should be avoided to save this important industry from any adverse effects. He expressed these views in a meeting with President Islamabad Pharmaceutical Industry Nasir Qureshi here on Wednesday.
Muhammad Ahmed Waheed said that as per drug pricing policy of the government, annual increase in drugs prices was linked with the consumer price index and inflation rate. He said that pharma industry ensured regular supply of medicines during the crisis of Covid-19 pandemic due to which there was no shortage of medicines in the market. However, negative propaganda against this industry would entail harmful consequences for it and emphasized that such propaganda should be avoided.
Speaking at the occasion, President Islamabad Pharmaceutical Industry Nasir Qureshi said that the pharma industry was providing quality life-saving medicines to the people. He said that the pharma industry has rendered useful services during the Covid-19 crisis as neither the prices of medicines were increased nor the shortage of medicines was allowed. He said that under the government formula, the prices of medicines are revised keeping in view the CPI index and which are likely to be increased in September. He said that 98% of raw material has to be imported from abroad to manufacture medicines on which international prices are applicable.
