Medical Supplies: ORS shortage at pharmacies
Owners of medical stores say the prices of ORS brands were increasing due to low supply and high demand.
LAHORE:
Patients of gastroenteritis, diarrhoea and other waterborne diseases have complained of a shortage of oral rehydration solution (ORS) in medical stores, at a time when demand for the product is at its peak because of the extreme heat.
Many medical stores located in front of Services Hospital and in Thokar Niaz Baig and Johar Town have reported a shortage of various brands of ORS. The owners of some stores said that the prices of some ORS brands were increasing because of the low supply and high demand. They said that the price had already been raised to Rs7.23 per packet last summer and was now selling at Rs10 per pack.
ORS, which is a mixture of salts and sugars, is crucial for relieving dehydration, which is what causes death in diarrhoea and gastroenteritis patients, particularly among the very old and very young.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 22nd, 2011.
Patients of gastroenteritis, diarrhoea and other waterborne diseases have complained of a shortage of oral rehydration solution (ORS) in medical stores, at a time when demand for the product is at its peak because of the extreme heat.
Many medical stores located in front of Services Hospital and in Thokar Niaz Baig and Johar Town have reported a shortage of various brands of ORS. The owners of some stores said that the prices of some ORS brands were increasing because of the low supply and high demand. They said that the price had already been raised to Rs7.23 per packet last summer and was now selling at Rs10 per pack.
ORS, which is a mixture of salts and sugars, is crucial for relieving dehydration, which is what causes death in diarrhoea and gastroenteritis patients, particularly among the very old and very young.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 22nd, 2011.