Demand for Indian medicines rises in Peshawar markets

Businessmen dealing with medicine say drugs far more effective, cheaper than local ones

PESHAWAR: As the prices of local medicines increase in the provincial capital, people are left with the only option of purchasing smuggled Indian unregistered medicines. These medicines are banned in the country and people travel all the way to tribal areas to purchase them since that is where the smuggled drugs arrive.

The medicines that come in from India are not only cost-friendly but are also considered to be more effective than the ones produced locally.

Assessing impact

People dealing in medicine business are of different views regarding the sale and access of Indian medicines. While some say the drugs will take over the local market, others believe local medicine companies will keep them out of reach of the public.

A senior health official, requesting anonymity, told The Express Tribune Indian medicines were available in neighbouring Afghanistan and were smuggled into Pakistan, adding not only were the prices low but the drugs were in fact more effective than locally produced medicines. “Ten capsules of locally manufactured omeprazol [used to treat symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease] will cost you over Rs200 but the same amount of Indian manufactured capsules can be purchased for Rs20,” the official  said. He added this was also true for all pain killers and ciprofloxacin.



He also said the prices of these medicines vary with time, however if people came to know about the actual price of these medicines, “they will be shocked and I mean it.”

The official said only the health department was privy to the real cost of locally produced medicines since it has been dealing with the companies and trying to purchase quality medicines at the lowest possible cost.

“A product also includes company expenses – distributers’ fee, pharmacy stores’ commission and even the doctors’ home expenses, visits abroad and other attractive deals,” he said.

A senior surgeon in the provincial capital, requesting anonymity said, 30% of the total amount of locally produced medicines was kept for promotion of the product, 15% went to the chemist and a large proportion was given to doctors. “Now you can imagine the real cost of a tablet which is sold for Rs100 in open market, really the cost will be less than Rs30, but it will be purchased for Rs100,” the surgeon said, adding the prices were high since companies paid for its sale.

Assessing feasibility

The surgeon said the government should consider import of Indian medicines which will not only add to the generation of tax revenue but will also give relief to the public.

“I do not think the prices will remain as low as they are right now once drugs are formally imported since taxes will be added,”  Professor Dr Zahid Awan told The Express Tribune. “But these medicines will still be available at a lower price compared to locally manufactured ones.”

He also said medicines needed a specific environment and the one available in Karkhano Market [the area where smuggled drugs reach from Afghanistan] was not ideal since the place was exposed to light and its temperature also fluctuated.



The other side

Drug Control Deputy Secretary Ibrahim Khan was not available for official comments despite repeated attempts. However, officials dealing in operations against drugs said only “unregistered” Indian medicines were banned in the country and others were allowed in open markets.

“Look, if a medicine is registered and it harms anyone, we can go after the owner or those involved but if something is unregistered, who will you arrest if it harms anyone? Drug Inspector Imran questioned, adding the amount the medicines were sold at was not enough even for its packaging.

He also ruled out the possibility of Indian medicines being smuggled from Afghanistan, stating almost all medicines were supplied from within Pakistan.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 28^th, 2016.