Govt plans local insulin production via Russia joint venture

July 31, 2025 (MLN): In a major step toward self-reliance in healthcare, the government is working to initiate local production of insulin through a proposed joint venture with Russian pharmaceutical firms. 

The protocol, currently being finalized between local manufacturers and Russia’s Zavod Medsintez, will soon be presented to the Federal Cabinet for approval as part of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s broader vision for domestic pharmaceutical development.

The development was discussed during a high-level meeting at the Ministry of Industries and Production, chaired by Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Industries and Production, Haroon Akhtar Khan. 

The meeting brought together Denis Nazarov, representative of the Russian government, as well as senior officials from the Ministry of National Health Services, Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP), and the Ministry of Industries.

Key points on the agenda included the import of insulin from Russia, progress on pharmaceutical joint ventures, and policy framework implementation. 

It was noted that DRAP has already granted registration to Genetics Pharmaceuticals, Lahore, for importing insulin from Zavod Medsintez paving the way for a steady supply of the life-saving drug.

The SAPM called the prospective joint venture a milestone in Pakistan-Russia bilateral ties, adding that uninterrupted insulin access would significantly benefit the country’s growing diabetic population. 

He instructed all relevant stakeholders to prepare a detailed proposal before the plan is formally submitted to the Cabinet.

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