KARACHI: An acute shortage of life-saving medicines continues to haunt the patients and their caregivers in the country, despite the recent increase in the prices of such drugs allowed by the government buckling under the pharmaceutical industry demand.
As per market sources and patients families, critical medications, including carbamazepine (an anti-seizure drug) and lithium carbonate (an anti-suicide drug), are still not available, exacerbating the healthcare crisis in the country.
Besides these drugs, the injections such as streptokinase, crucial for preventing blood clots in arteries and treating strokes and heart attacks, as well as heparin, a blood-thinning medication, are also short in the market, they lament.
The absence of these vital medicines, along with seven other crucial drugs mostly needed for hospitalised patients, further compounds the situation.
Acknowledging the gravity of the situation, the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) officials suggest that institutions concerned as well as individuals should explore the possibility of importing these medications from abroad, claiming that efforts are underway to ensure continuous supply of these drugs.
The shortage of imported vaccines due to disruptions in supply from vendors is affecting both public and private healthcare facilities, contributing to a severe healthcare crisis in the country.
The Pakistan Chemists and Druggists Association (PCDA) blames the disparity between the dollar and the rupee for their inability to supply essential imported drugs. The association apprehends that the government’s failure to promptly address these issues, particularly the rules governing hardship cases, may result in a severe shortage of imported medical products in the country.
PCDA Secretary General Asim Jamil warns that if the rules regarding hardship cases are not immediately resolved and amended, a dire shortage of imported medical products may affect the public health in the country in a big way.
He urged the government to address the ongoing shortage of life-saving drugs through urgent attention and collaborative efforts involving the stakeholders to ensure timely availability of essential medicines for the well-being of the people.
