Transparency International Pakistan has written a letter to the Federal Minister for National Health Services, urging strict enforcement of the policy mandating the use of generic names in medical prescriptions.
The organization emphasized that implementing this policy could reduce public healthcare expenses by up to 90 percent. In the letter, Transparency International pointed out the stark price difference between branded and non-branded (generic) medicines, urging that doctors should prescribe medicines using their generic names rather than brand names.
According to the letter, the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) had issued instructions in 2021 for doctors to prescribe medicines generically, but those directives have not been effectively implemented.
The organization further recommended that low-cost medicines be prioritized in public procurement. It stated that some branded drugs are priced significantly higher than their generic alternatives. Promoting the use of generic medicines would not only benefit low-income patients but also support the growth of the local pharmaceutical industry.
