By Dr Akram Sultan
The federal government’s decision to reduce taxes on the import of raw materials used in cancer medicines deserves broad support. In a country where serious illness often pushes families into financial distress, any measure that lowers the cost of life-saving treatment is a step in the right direction. Cancer treatment remains beyond the reach of many Pakistanis, with imported medicines placing a heavy burden on patients and their families. By reducing the tax burden on essential pharmaceutical ingredients, the government has acknowledged an important reality: access to healthcare should not be determined by a person’s financial capacity.
The decision to facilitate the import of materials and devices related to population control programs is equally significant. Pakistan continues to face rapid population growth, placing increasing pressure on healthcare services, education, employment opportunities and public infrastructure. Making family planning products more accessible is not merely a healthcare initiative; it is a broader economic and social investment. Effective population management contributes to improved maternal health, reduced poverty and greater opportunities for future generations.
While these measures are welcome, they should be viewed as the beginning rather than the conclusion of a larger healthcare and industrial strategy. Pakistan remains heavily dependent on imported pharmaceutical raw materials. Every year, substantial amounts of foreign exchange are spent on ingredients that could potentially be manufactured domestically. This dependence exposes the country to global supply chain disruptions, currency fluctuations and rising import costs. The long-term solution lies not only in reducing taxes on imports but also in developing the capacity to produce pharmaceutical raw materials within Pakistan.
The same principle applies to vaccine manufacturing. The recent efforts by the federal health ministry and the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan to strengthen domestic vaccine production deserve full backing. The lessons of the Covid-19 pandemic remain fresh. Nations that relied entirely on foreign suppliers often found themselves at the end of long queues for essential vaccines. Countries that invested in local production capacity were better equipped to protect their populations.
Pakistan should therefore actively pursue partnerships with nations that have successfully developed their pharmaceutical and vaccine industries. Countries such as Turkey, Egypt and Indonesia offer valuable examples of how emerging economies can build sustainable healthcare manufacturing sectors. Through technology transfer agreements, joint ventures and scientific collaboration, Pakistan could accelerate its own progress while avoiding many of the obstacles encountered by others.
At the same time, attention must be paid to the production of essential medical supplies that are frequently overlooked despite their importance. Disposable syringes, for example, play a critical role in infection control. The continued spread of communicable diseases, including HIV and various blood-borne infections, highlights the consequences of unsafe medical practices. Expanding the manufacture of single-use syringes in all provinces would not only support public health but also create additional industrial capacity within the healthcare sector.
Similarly, Pakistan should encourage domestic production of anti-cancer medicines, prefilled syringes, vaccines, medical adhesives and other essential healthcare products. Even seemingly modest items such as plaster materials and medical tapes form an important part of the healthcare supply chain. Dependence on imports for these products represents a missed economic opportunity and a potential vulnerability during times of crisis.
Healthcare governance itself also requires urgent attention. Regulatory and healthcare commissions across the provinces, Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Kashmir and the federal capital should be strengthened with greater professional representation. Healthcare systems function most effectively when decisions are informed by individuals with direct knowledge of patient care and public health challenges. Doctors, dentists, pharmacists, physiotherapists and practitioners from recognised traditional and alternative medicine systems all possess expertise that can contribute to better policymaking when properly integrated into regulatory structures.
Another important gap remains the absence of a comprehensive national pharmacopoeia. A pharmacopoeia provides standardised guidelines for the quality, composition and testing of medicines. It serves as an authoritative reference for manufacturers, regulators and healthcare practitioners. The development of an official Pakistani pharmacopoeia would help establish uniform standards across the industry, strengthen regulatory oversight and enhance confidence in locally manufactured products. For a country seeking to expand pharmaceutical exports, such a step is not merely desirable but increasingly necessary.
Beyond domestic needs, Pakistan must also look outward. The pharmaceutical industry possesses considerable export potential, particularly in African markets where demand for affordable medicines continues to grow. Pakistan’s manufacturers have demonstrated the ability to produce quality products at competitive prices. With appropriate diplomatic and commercial support, these products could secure a stronger presence in international markets.
However, pharmaceutical exports should not be limited to products alone. Human resources represent an equally valuable opportunity. The global healthcare sector faces a significant shortage of nurses and other medical professionals. Many countries are actively recruiting trained healthcare workers from abroad. Pakistan, with its large population and expanding educational sector, should be well positioned to meet part of this demand. Yet current figures suggest that the country is falling far behind its potential.
The challenge lies in education and training. Nursing programmes require substantial improvement if graduates are to compete successfully in international markets. Investment in modern curricula, clinical training and professional development would not only benefit overseas employment prospects but also strengthen Pakistan’s own healthcare system. Similar attention should be given to medical education more broadly, ensuring that graduates possess the skills required by an increasingly globalised healthcare industry.
Ultimately, healthcare should be viewed not only as a social responsibility but also as a strategic economic sector. The reduction in taxes on cancer drug ingredients and family planning materials is a welcome development, but it should form part of a wider national vision. By investing in pharmaceutical manufacturing, vaccine production, healthcare regulation, professional education and export promotion, Pakistan can improve public health while simultaneously creating economic opportunities. The challenge now is to transform a series of positive policy measures into a coherent long-term strategy that serves both patients and the nation’s broader development goals.
(The writer is a renowned public health specialist, had led various government organizations. His services are internationally acknowledged, currently he is affiliated with different medical forums as advisor. He can be reached at editorial@metro-morning.com)
