Getz Pharma has announced up to 50% price reductions on Sem-P, one of Pakistan’s widely used semaglutide products, sparking debate over pharmaceutical pricing narratives in the country.
WEBDESK – MEDIABITES NEWS – COURTESY: SHAHID MOHMIND
Pakistan’s largest pharmaceutical company by sales, Getz Pharma, has announced major price cuts on its semaglutide-based product Sem-P, a move industry observers say deserves far more attention in Pakistan’s ongoing debate around medicine prices.
According to a newly released advertisement by the company, prices of Sem-P injections have been reduced by up to 50 percent across multiple dosage categories.
The updated pricing shared by Getz Pharma shows the Sem-P 0.25mg weekly dose has been reduced from Rs1,000 per dose to Rs500 per dose. Meanwhile, the 2mg/1.5mL pen has reportedly been cut from Rs8,000 to Rs4,000, while the 4mg/3mL pen has seen its price reduced from Rs13,000 to Rs7,800.
The company has positioned the reduction as an effort to improve accessibility for patients requiring semaglutide treatment, a medication increasingly used worldwide for diabetes management and weight-loss support.
The announcement has triggered discussions within Pakistan’s pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors, especially regarding how medicine pricing stories are covered publicly.
Industry professionals argue that while even minor medicine price increases often trigger intense criticism, accusations and political noise, substantial reductions by pharmaceutical firms rarely receive equivalent public or media attention.
“This highlights the imbalance in how the pharmaceutical sector is discussed,” one industry observer commented. “When prices go up slightly because of rising production costs, exchange rate pressures or imported raw material expenses, companies face immediate backlash. But when a company significantly reduces prices, it barely becomes a national conversation.”
The issue is particularly sensitive in Pakistan, where pharmaceutical companies continue to face rising manufacturing costs due to inflation, energy tariffs, imported raw material dependency and currency depreciation.
At the same time, medicine affordability remains a major concern for millions of Pakistanis struggling with healthcare expenses.
Healthcare analysts say Getz Pharma’s move could place competitive pressure on other manufacturers in the diabetes and obesity treatment market, particularly as demand for semaglutide products continues to rise globally.
Semaglutide-based medicines have gained massive international popularity in recent years because of their effectiveness in managing Type-2 diabetes and assisting weight reduction under medical supervision.
The advertisement also highlighted that the products are now available through pharmacies nationwide, alongside free home delivery services.
While the debate over medicine pricing in Pakistan remains politically charged, some experts believe the latest development reflects the need for a more balanced public conversation around the pharmaceutical industry — one that acknowledges both pricing pressures and meaningful reductions when they occur.
For many observers, the bigger question is whether positive developments within Pakistan’s healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors receive the same visibility and scrutiny as controversies and price hikes.
