No shortage of Panadol, claims minister

Federal Health Minister Abdul Qadir Patel on Monday claimed that there was no shortage of paracetamol in the country and added that the drug was being produced in bulk.

The claim comes after the months-long shortage of the widely used drug Pandol has intensified hardships for patients amidst the resurgence of dengue and Covid infections. Doctors prescribe Paracetamol and Panadol to relieve pain and control fever.

Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, the minister said the essential medicine was available in abundance and the government did not plan to increase its price. He claimed that the drug was not in short supply anywhere in the country.

Unlike the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government’s policies of burdening the masses, Patel said their government understands the plight of the poor and will not burden them further with heightened costs of medicines.

Taking a jab at the former prime minister, the minister said if Imran Khan should reduce the number of speeches, fewer people would need to take medicines for the headache.

Rawalpindi and Islamabad are facing an acute shortage of medicines used to treat dengue fever amidst the onslaught of the dengue mosquito and the rising number of cases.

Fever-breaking pills and syrups have become scarce and wholesale dealers have run out of stocks.

There has been a shortage of life-saving medicines due to the unusual buying and selling of medicines for flood victims.

Drugs used to treat dengue patients have completely disappeared from the market and patients bear the brunt of the shortage.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 13^th, 2022.