ISLAMABAD: The prices of a broad spectrum of medicines have surged sharply in recent months, threatening to put essential treatments beyond the reach of many citizens.
An anecdotal survey conducted by Business Recorder revealed that medicine prices have risen between eight and 35 percent over the past four months.
The cost of Cortisporin eye ointment has skyrocketed from Rs48 to Rs65, Caflam tablets from Rs337 to Rs371 per pack, Galvus Met tablets from Rs3,100 to Rs3,410, and Methycobal tablets from Rs250 to Rs300 per pack.
The list goes on – Surbex Z tablets jumped from Rs370 to Rs440, Sunny D capsules from Rs375 to Rs450, Lerace D tablets from Rs550 to Rs664, Tricardin tablets from Rs995 to Rs1,400, Ciproxin tablets from Rs550 to Rs708, Panadol Extra from Rs40 to Rs50, and Perno injections surged from Rs2,700 to Rs3,352.
Talking to this correspondent, the traders lamented that these are some of the most essential medicines used to combat fever, cardiac issues, infections, weakness, and eye problems.
They said that many drugs, especially those treating chronic conditions, have become out of reach for the average consumer.
They said most drugs, especially those for chronic ailments, have been rendered unaffordable for the public.
The caretaker government of Anwaarul Haq Kakar had approved the deregulation policy in February 2024 after the Ministry of National Health recommended it, allowing pharmaceutical companies to independently raise prices for non-essential drugs excluded from the National Essential Medicines List (NEML).
The deregulation policy was intended to assist the struggling pharmaceutical sector, which faced skyrocketing production costs, by ensuring the availability of medicines that had become financially unviable.
“Prices of medicines are increasing on a monthly or even weekly basis. Every time a patient comes to buy medicines, their bill is higher than the last time,” said Shaukat Awan, manager at a major pharmacy chain.
He highlighted that prices of drugs for chronic ailments like diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, and mental health conditions are rising relentlessly, as are those for common cold and flu medications.
Pharmacy owners are also feeling the impact. Tariq Hussain, a medical store owner, claimed many patients are now rationing their medicines due to high costs.
“I know several people who are taking 15 or 20 tablets instead of the full course of 30 because they can’t afford it. They’re asking us for more discounts, which we cannot offer,” he said.
Antibiotics, a staple item for pharmacies, have also seen steep price hikes, leading to difficulties for patients in purchasing them.
A physician corroborated the dire situation, stating that patients are increasingly requesting doctors to prescribe fewer medications due to financial constraints.
The absence of a national health insurance system further exacerbates the problem, as most healthcare expenses in Pakistan are out-of-pocket.
“The lack of financial support mechanisms means that these price hikes are devastating for patients who rely on daily medication for survival especially labourers and other daily wagers,” said Dr Ikram Shah.
Recently the issue was also taken up in the Senate Standing Committee on National Health Services and Regulations also expressing serious concerns over cartelization in pharmaceutical industry has said that the government deregulated the prices to bring fair competition in the drug market but pharma industry cartelized and unprecedented price hike.
Committee Chairman Senator Aamir Waliuddin declared that the unprecedented price hikes driven by profiteering cannot be tolerated at the expense of public health.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
