Pakistan hikes price of anti-rabies vaccine by nearly PKR 1,100

Pakistan's top economic decision-making body — the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) — decided to raise the maximum retail price (MRP) of anti-rabies vaccine by over PKR 1,100.

The Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination had forwarded a summary to the ECC stating that there was a shortage of the vaccine at the Federal General Hospital Chak Shahzad Islamabad. Moreover, the vaccine which is manufactured by the National Institute of Health, Islamabad was currently priced at PKR 891.65 per 0.5ml dose whereas the same drug was sold at PKR 2,126.40 if WHO-approved and PKR 1,266.14 if non-WHO approved in the market.

Consequently, the ECC approved the proposal to increase the price of the vaccine manufactured by the National Institute of Health, Islamabad, from PKR 891.65 to PKR 1,980 per 0.5ml dose to cover the landed cost of imported material and ensure its sufficient production and supply to the public sector hospitals.

The ECC also considered and approved a proposal for increasing the rate of special allowance for employees of Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) to bring them on the same level as other law enforcement agencies.

The meeting was told that the salaries of the ANF employees were considerably low compared to employees of other LEAs despite undertaking similar work and encountering similar dangers and hazards peculiar to their job of drug prevention and border patrol. The impact of revision for the ANF employees would be met from within the current year's sanctioned budget, according to a press release issued after the meeting.

The ECC also took up and approved a proposal submitted by the Ministry of Climate Change & Environmental Coordination for a technical supplementary grant of PKR 150 million to meet the requirements of the COP-29 to be held in Baku, Azerbaijan from November 11-27.

The meeting was told that Pakistan, being highly vulnerable to climate change impacts, was actively engaged in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the COP-29 would afford Pakistan with an opportunity to showcase its domestic climate actions, such as renewable energy projects, afforestation initiatives, and disaster risk reduction measures by setting up a Pakistan Pavilion to host different side events to highlight the achievements.

The ECC also considered and approved a proposal submitted by the Defence Division for a technical supplementary grant amounting to PKR 45 billion for various already approved projects of defence services during the current fiscal year.