Pakistan has approved a rise of up to 20% in retail prices of general medicines and 14% for essential ones, prompting immediate criticism from drug manufacturers who said the hikes were too small.The government decision followed a months-long standoff with importers and manufacturers who have been demanding an across-the-board 39% rise, warning that the industry could otherwise collapse. Pakistan’s annual inflation rate hit 35% in March, fuelled by a depreciating currency, a rollback in subsidies and the imposition of higher tariffs to secure a bailout package of $1.1 billion from the International Monetary Fund. Food inflation has soared to 47%. But the government had pushed back against demands for higher medicine prices, fearing such a move would be counter-productive months before the general elections. The finance ministry said medicine prices could be reviewed again after three months if the Pakistani rupee appreciated, adding that “no increase under this category” would be granted in the next financial year, reports The Express Tribune.
