ECC may allow increase in prices of 124 medicines, including Paracetamol

The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) in its meeting on Friday (today) may allow increase in prices of 124 medicines including fever relief pills and syrup Paracetamol. It may also allow cut in prices of 20 medicines and fix maximum retail price (MRP) of 18 new medicines. According to a document, available with Dawn, Minister for Finance and Revenue Ishaq Dar will chair the meeting of ECC which will be held in the Cabinet Room, Prime Minister’s Office, Islamabad. Document shows that increase in MRP of Paracetamol will also be considered. The medicine has been running short since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 and situation further worsened after floods last year. Although the govt had increased the price of medicine last year, medicine still remains short. Moreover approval will be sought from the ECC to increase the MRP of 119 drugs under hardship category as recommended by Drug Pricing Committee (DPC) in its 53rd meeting. Similarly approval will be sought for increasing the prices of four more drugs, under same category, as Drug Pricing Committeehad suggested increasing the price in 52nd meeting.