A sales tax on medicines is likely to be imposed on the recommendation of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
According to federal officials, drugs can be subject to a sales tax of 10 to 18 percent, and companies can raise the prices of other than essential drugs themselves.
On the other hand, experts have expressed fear that the deregulation of prices and sales tax will make medicines unaffordable. Millions of people in Pakistan use heart, diabetes and blood pressure medicines every day, while millions of people take medicines for mental health and non-communicable diseases. Take medicines on a daily basis.
The experts further say that the supply of medicines should be ensured through health facility program and health insurance
