Unfortunately, in Pakistan, many essential drugs are either unavailable or are scarcely available.
RAWALPINDI: By definition, essential drugs are those that are needed on a day-to-day basis, while being effective, safe and affordable, and fulfil the needs of a majority of the people. An essential drugs list was compiled by the World Health Organisation expert committee a long time ago and is reviewed periodically. Based on this list, Pakistan has developed national drug formulae, which are also updated periodically but hardly ever implemented.
Recently, the press has been abuzz with news that the government has decided to increase the prices of drugs by 18 per cent, excluding essential drugs. This decision will be logical and meaningful only if essential drugs are available in Pakistan. Unfortunately, in Pakistan, many essential drugs are either unavailable or are scarcely available — frequently disappearing from the market, while the markets are choked with harmful drugs.
The aim behind the genesis of an essential drugs list was to make these drugs within the reach of the people at affordable prices, thereby making medical treatment safe and cost effective .
The government of Pakistan is morally and ethically bound by its commitment to international health agencies, including the WHO, to safeguard the people’s basic fundamental rights and make essential drugs available everywhere and at all times. In fact, the government should provide essential drugs free of cost to needy people as is done in some other countries, including those in the Saarc states.
It seems that the motive behind depriving people of essential drugs is to provide space for expensive non-essential drugs in order to earn hefty profits, which are siphoned off by companies to their countries of origin.
Lt General Mahmud Akhtar
Published in The Express Tribune, December 7th, 2013.
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