Panadol shortages cause anxiety in businesspeople

Commerce and Industry (ICCI) President Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari has urged the government to resolve the issue of Panadol’s unavailability in the market on a priority basis. The acute shortage of the essential medicine was creating medical problems and was also impacting pharmacies. While talking to a Pakistan Chemists and Druggists Association (PCDA) delegation led by its Chairman Mian Tariq Saeed, Bakhtawari observed that there is a great demand for Panadol in the market due to the rising cases of dengue and malaria across the country, especially in flood-hit areas. And its shortage had exposed patients to serious health issues.

“The manufacturer has suspended the production of Panadol due to a twofold increase in the price of its raw material. They are urging that the government take urgent measures to rationalise the price of raw material to ensure a restart of its production and easy availability in the market,” he said. He assured ICCI’s cooperation with the PCDA in resolving these key issues of the sector. Speaking at the occasion, the Islamabad PCDA chairman highlighted the various issues being faced. “The price of raw materials required to produce Panadol has witnessed a twofold increase which affected the availability of this product in the market and pharmacies are also losing business on this account,” he said, stressing that the government address the issue causing its shortage in the market.

“The online buying and selling of medicines are illegal under the Drug Act,” he said, adding that “The regulator should ensure strict implementation of this law as this practice was affecting the businesses of license holder chemists and druggists.” Saeed also highlighted issues being faced by PCDA from Employees’ OldAge Benefits Institution (EOBI) and Social Security Institution, and requested ICCI to redress their concerns. ICCI Executive Member Nasir M Qureshi was of the opinion that the high energy cost and tight drug regulations were major hurdles to the growth of the pharma sector in Pakistan.

He suggested the government consider deregulating this sector to bring in competition and reduce the price of medicines in Pakistan. Senior ICCI members also stressed that the government address the issues of chemists and druggists to facilitate the growth of their business activities.