Punjab faces severe shortage of essential, life-saving medicines
Naveed Babar Dar
Lahore and Faisalabad are grappling with a severe scarcity of more than 150 vital medicines, including life-saving drugs, causing distress and anxiety among patients and the general public.
Individuals are compelled to explore alternative avenues to secure necessary medications, resorting to purchasing them on the black market at significantly inflated prices from various locations within the cities.
The shortage encompasses a broad spectrum of medications, impacting various health conditions:
- Epilepsy Medicines: Individuals with epilepsy face challenges obtaining the essential drugs crucial for managing their seizures.
- Antibiotic Injections: The shortage is exacerbating difficulties in treating infections due to a lack of available antibiotics.
- Medications for Chronic Conditions: People dealing with high blood pressure and heart disease struggle to maintain their health without access to proper medication.
- Surgical and Allergy Medications: Surgeries and treatments for seasonal allergies are hindered by the insufficient availability of necessary medicines.
- Medications for Diabetes, TB, Asthma, and Hepatitis: Individuals managing these diseases encounter obstacles in accessing vital treatments.
- Cough Syrups: Limited variety and availability of cough syrups make it challenging to alleviate common cold and cough symptoms.
- Eye and Ear Drops, Wound Ointments: Essential products for eye and ear care and wound treatment are scarce, affecting those in need.
- Blood Disease Injections: Patients with blood diseases are unable to access the necessary injections vital for maintaining their health.
This situation has led to widespread anxiety and frustration among the public. Individuals often spend days searching for required medicines across various pharmacies, with little success. The lack of access to essential medications poses serious health risks for the affected population.
Citizens report diligently searching for medicines, only to find them unavailable anywhere.
Pharmaceutical companies attribute the shortage to the exorbitant cost of raw materials. They contend that current drug prices do not adequately cover production costs, presenting challenges in manufacturing these crucial medicines.
While the primary healthcare minister acknowledges the severity of the situation, stating that the federal government is in negotiations with pharmaceutical companies, a concrete solution is yet to be announced. This leaves patients and their families in a state of uncertainty and fear.
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