Islamabad, Apr 18, 2025: A top-level team from the Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (PPMA), led by its chairman, recently met with Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal to explore new ways to strengthen public-private partnerships in the country’s pharmaceutical sector.
During the meeting, the focus was on boosting joint efforts and tackling the pressing issues faced by local drug manufacturers.
The PPMA delegation presented a detailed overview of the industry’s recent achievements and shared insights into its evolving landscape.
Since July 2024, Pakistan’s pharmaceutical exports have surged by 52%, marking a significant milestone.
The government’s supportive deregulation measures largely caused this positive shift, as they not only stabilized the market but also helped overcome medicine shortages.
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The delegation revealed that local producers make around 90% of the medicines sold in Pakistan.
Many of these drugs are already meeting international quality benchmarks and have strong export potential.
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Minister Kamal laid out his broader vision to revamp the nation’s healthcare system.
He admitted that public hospitals are under immense pressure due to an inefficient referral system and lack of functional primary health centers.
“Almost 70% of patients who should visit local health units end up crowding major hospitals,” he explained.
He underscored the critical role of telemedicine in solving these structural issues.
“Over 80% of our population is tech-savvy. With telehealth services, we can ease the load on hospitals and expand access,” Kamal stated.
Furthermore, urged the pharmaceutical sector to back this digital transformation, promising full government assistance.
In a major step towards digital health integration, the minister announced that Pakistan’s National ID number would soon be used as a Medical Record (MR) number, with NADRA’s help.
This move is expected to centralize patient data and improve continuity of care.
Minister Kamal also unveiled plans to provide doorstep medical services, making healthcare accessible even in remote areas.
Acknowledging the flaws in the current system, he reaffirmed the government’s intent to use smart technology for impactful reforms.
He also addressed the urgent need to eliminate counterfeit medicines, proposing QR code tracking as a solution to ensure only genuine, affordable, and effective drugs reach consumers.
“Fake drugs harm lives and destroy our global image,” he warned, calling on pharma companies to take decisive action.
