Pakistan to Introduce Generic-Name Drug Purchasing

Pakistan to Introduce Generic-Name Drug Purchasing The Pakistani Health Ministry has announced that it is to source medicines under their generic names. While the move may be intended to eliminate confusion among drug procurers, it is nevertheless likely to encourage the local penetration of generics still further. Health officials claim that the new list, which includes some 900 products, could reduce the country's drug bill by up to 60%.

Spending in Pakistan's drug sector is set to reach US$940mn at consumer prices by 2007, with generics likely to continue to play a key role in drug sales. The multinational sector continues to cite the country's strict government control over pricing and the poor state of the regulatory infrastructure as factors behind consistently sluggish growth in recent years.