The federal government has approved price fixation for 35 essential and life-saving medicines in a move aimed at addressing shortages that had disrupted treatment for patients across Pakistan.

Officials said pricing approval for another 45 molecules is also expected soon, which could further improve the availability of critical therapies that had remained inaccessible because of prolonged delays.

A senior official said the shortages had forced many patients to miss treatment or turn to expensive and unregulated alternatives.

According to officials, Federal Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal raised the issue at the cabinet level and briefed Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on the urgency of resolving the delays in pricing approvals.

The matter had remained pending for nearly two years, as the government was concerned that fixing prices could be seen as a price increase, resulting in continued delays.

Officials said the prime minister was informed that the prolonged inaction was disrupting supply chains and putting patients at risk, particularly those requiring uninterrupted treatment.

The medicines affected by the delays include oncology drugs, transplant medicines, cardiovascular treatments and vaccines, including those for typhoid, polio and pneumococcal infections.

Other products impacted included recombinant human coagulation factor VIII, human rabies immunoglobulin and semaglutide.

Officials said the shortages had created treatment gaps for patients suffering from cancer, haemophilia, severe infections and other chronic illnesses. In many cases, patients were forced to seek medicines through informal markets, raising concerns over safety, quality and effectiveness.