Giving to the government week’s ultimatum, Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Association (PPMA) on Monday warned that if it (the government) did not increase the prices of medicines within one week keeping in view unprecedented inflation, all drugs’ manufacturing units would be shut down, reported 24newsHD TV channel. 

The warning was given at a meeting of the Association held in Islamabad.  

The meeting showed concern that despite the fact that petrol and US dollar prices had gone up significantly, the government had not notified increase in the prices of drugs as yet. 

Contents of the letter were also finalized at the meeting which would be sent to the federal minister for finance, federal health minister, DRAP and other concerned departments. 

Former chairman of the PPMA Mansoor Dilawar said already the companies were facing great difficulty in manufacturing drugs on account of the non-availability of the raw material. “But now after record hike in the dollar’s rate, it has become increasingly difficult to run factories,” he said, and added, “The cost of each and every item has gone up in the country. If the government does not act now, we will be forced to increase the prices of drugs either on our own or with the help of courts.”