Inflation: Drug prices soar by up to 170% in the past few weeks

Pharmaceutical companies given till June 26 to explain hikes.


Sehrish Wasif June 24, 2012

ISLAMABAD: The prices of medicines have increased by up to 170% in the past few weeks.

According to the price list available with The Express Tribune, the price of Lexotanil has increased from Rs122 to Rs205, Kenacomb from Rs42 to Rs73, Pedialyte and Pedicare from Rs55 to Rs80, Dijex syrup from Rs25 to Rs34, saline drops from Rs15 to Rs22, Humulin 70-30 from Rs472 to Rs498, Gripe Water from Rs45 to Rs50, Quench from Rs88 to Rs125 and Diamicron from Rs128 to Rs150 to list a few.

Apart from costly medicines, many drugs are not available in the market. These include Duac, Sancos syrup, Thyroxine tablets, Cosome, Combinal Junior, Actifed-P tablets and syrup, Erythrosine syrup and tablets, Betnesol drops and polyfix.

Farhan, owner of a pharmacy in Aabpara, said the prices of baby milk powder have also increased. Nido is now available for Rs360 and BF 1+ 2 for Rs500.

There are some 11 pharmaceutical companies involved in raising prices, the majority of which are local, according to an official in the pricing committee at the Ministry of National Regulations and Services.

The official, asking not to be named because he was not authorised to talk to media, said the companies were summoned before the committee on June 19 for justifying the price increases. No company appeared. The new deadline for the pharmaceutical companies to give explanation is June 26, the official added.

Published in The Express Tribune, 25th, 2012.

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