Pakistan is grappling with a shortage of essential medicines, including life-saving drugs, leading to distress among patients and citizens. Karachi and Islamabad are particularly affected, with reports of scarce availability of vaccines, insulin for diabetes management, epilepsy drugs, and other critical products.
Moreover, black market sales of medicines, including those for blood pressure control, exacerbate the situation with inflated prices. Secretary of the Drug Quality Control Board Sindh, Syed Adnan Rizvi, has instructed drug inspectors to assess medicine availability. Meanwhile, Islamabad and neighboring areas report shortages of over 30 vital medicines. Although the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) suggests possible supply-chain issues, it denies a widespread shortage, citing ample insulin availability. Despite previous crackdowns on artificial shortages, illegal sales persist, intensifying the medicine crisis in Pakistan.
