Pricing delay raises shortage of medicine, counterfeiting risks

Pakistan is grappling with a severe shortage of more than 100 essential medicines, including critical treatments for cancer and heart disease, as the federal government delays decisions on price revisions. Manufacturers argue that rising costs for imported raw materials, energy, and transportation, coupled with currency depreciation, have made producing many vital drugs financially unsustainable.

The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (Drap) recommended price adjustments for 105 hardship-category medicines over two years ago, but the federal cabinet has yet to approve these proposals. This delay has led several pharmaceutical companies to scale back or halt production, exacerbating the scarcity of essential drugs across the country.

Abdul Samad Buddani of the Pakistan Chemists and Druggists Association (PCDA) warned that the persistent unavailability of genuine medicines creates a dangerous vacuum. "When authentic medicines disappear from the market, patients become desperate and often turn to unreliable sources. That increases the risk of counterfeit and substandard medicines entering the supply chain, particularly expensive cancer medicines and other life-saving drugs," he stated. The situation is particularly concerning for treatments like oral morphine capsules for severe cancer pain, streptokinase injections for heart attacks, and various chemotherapy drugs.

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When authentic medicines disappear from the market, patients become desperate and often turn to unreliable sources. That increases the risk of counterfeit and substandard medicines entering the supply chain, particularly expensive cancer medicines and other life-saving drugs.