MINUTES OF PPMA (EMERGENT) 4TH CEC MEETING (ZOOM) FOR THE SESSION 2023-24 March 30, 2024
Participants
Ex-Officio/Member CEC PPMA
One Point Agenda: Update on Deregulations of Pricing of Non-Essential (Non-NEML) Medicines After recitation of Holy Quran & welcome to the participants, Chairman PPMA greeted the house and initiated discussion. Talking about stay order issued by Lahore High Court on SRO 228 Deregulation of Non-
Essential Drugs Pricing case of Pharmaceutical Products, he said that respondents in the petition were Federation of Pakistan & NHS/DRAP whereas PPMA was not currently nominated as a party be applicant. Next hearing date is approaching on April 2nd 2024. Meanwhile PPMA has approached the government at different forums and discussed the effects of the court decision on Pharma Industry unfortunately leading to shortages of essential medicines. He further added that government was preparing to respond strongly to the petition as lot of work had been undertaken to reach this decision and it was unfortunate that court acted in haste and not heard from the Federal Government before issuing interim stay order.
After long discussion, the house decided the following unanimously.
Chairman PPMA will meet government high ups to discuss the legal points including Appellate Board authority in line with decisions of Supreme Court of Pakistan.
PPMA legal team will attend the hearing in Lahore High Court on April 2nd 2024 and intervene if necessary. Pharms Bureau has been taken on board about PPMA legal strategy and they will move in liaison with PPMA
as and when necessary Chairman PPMA thanked the house on its confidence
OTHER AGENDA ITEM
Chairman PPMA briefed the house on the past practice of increment of staff salaries, bonus on Eid ul Fitr and date of increments in last three years. After house consensus, following increases in staff salaries etc. were confirmed:
Senior Staff salary increase by 12%
Other Staff salary increase by 15%
One Annual Bonus based on salary of 2023
Salaries shall be revised with increment on 1st January every year including this year Rs. 5,000/- Eidi for all PPMA Staff was also announced by Chairman PPMA
Honorarium Asst Secretary PPMA South, Mr. Zakir Adil is being paid allowance / honorarium since past few years based on services related to Federation Chamber of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI). It was agreed by members that allowances shall stay FIXED unless specifically revised by CEC. Therefore, no increment / bonus on honorarium shall be paid on account of service for Central Office PPMA.
NAWAZ AHMED
Secretary General PPMA