Essential medicines shortage hit country putting patients’ lives at risk

Various essential and lifesaving drugs have disappeared from the market, putting the lives of hapless patients at risk, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Friday.

According to sources, numerous essential critical medications have vanished from both wholesale and retail markets, including leading pharmacy chains in cities like Lahore, creating a potentially dangerous situation for those in need of vital treatments.

Sources revealed that over 50% of the drugs listed on the World Health Organization’s (WHO) essential medicines list are no longer available in the market, jeopardizing the lives of countless patients.

Among the missing drugs are those commonly used for treating infections, chronic diseases, and critical conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and tuberculosis. Specific medications like Metronidazole, Entamizole, Quinine bi Sulphate, Chloroquine, Tegral, and Humulin Injection are reported to be out of stock.

Other vital drugs, including Vitamin K Injection, Narcotic Analgesics, Thyroxine, Codiene-based cough syrups, and insulin preparations like Novomix and Heparin injections, are also unavailable, further exacerbating the crisis.

The Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (PPMA) has voiced its concerns regarding the reasons behind this alarming shortage.

The PPMA chairman Mian Khalid Misbah-ur-Rehman, highlighted several contributing factors, including the devaluation of the Pakistani rupee, rising inflation, and increases in wages and utility costs.

According to him, these economic challenges have resulted in soaring production costs, making it difficult for pharmaceutical manufacturers to sustain operations under the current pricing regime.

“Unlike other products, the prices of essential drugs have remained static despite the unprecedented rise in input costs,” Khalid said.

He explained that in many cases, the production cost now exceeds the retail price, leaving manufacturers with little to no profit margin. This unsustainable pricing model has led to widespread shortages, hoarding, and, in some cases, illegal sales at inflated rates.

 “Heart, diabetes, cancer, and epilepsy patients are among the most affected by the unavailability of essential medications,” he added.

 The consequences of the drug shortage are dire. Misbah-ur-Rehman warned that desperate patients are at risk of turning to unregistered, smuggled, counterfeit, or potentially harmful alternatives in the absence of legitimate medicines.

He urged the government to take swift action to address the issue and implement lasting solutions that protect both patients and manufacturers.

One of the key recommendations from PPMA is the enforcement of the Drug Pricing Policy 2018, which they argue should be applied "in letter and spirit" to ensure the sustainability of the local pharmaceutical industry.

Khalid emphasized the need for timely revisions in drug prices, allowing for  realistic profit margin across the supply chain. He also called for a rationalization of the annual price revision threshold for essential drugs to prevent recurring shortages.