Chakwal grapples with medicine shortage

Due to the alleged nexus between pharmaceutical companies and distributors, Chakwal's markets are currently grappling with an alarming scarcity of vital medications, causing immense distress for patients.

According to sources, particularly hard-hit are patients with diabetes and epilepsy as medicines for the said diseases have completely vanished from the local market.

Families of patients are facing mounting anxiety as they struggle to procure these essential medicines. Unfortunately, the issue has gone unnoticed by drug inspectors and relevant authorities, posing a serious threat to patients' lives.

Even reputable pharmacies and medical stores within the city are now faced with a severe dearth of life-saving medications.

Citizens are raising concerns that distributors are deflecting blame onto pharmaceutical companies, claiming that these medications are not being supplied to them.

Curiously, reports indicate that the distributors possess substantial quantities of the aforementioned medicines. By orchestrating a scarcity, distributors are allegedly driving up prices and exacerbating the difficulties faced by patients, especially those residing in the nearby rural areas as they travel great distances from their rural hamlets to the city for medications and return empty-handed.

On the other hand, distributors are asserting that due to the limited quantity of medicines received from manufacturers, it's practically impossible to cater to all retailers within the city. To address this, they have instituted a requirement of presenting an ID card and a doctor's prescription for eligible patients seeking medications.

While some distributors suggest resorting to online channels to obtain insulin, concerns emerge about the accessibility of the internet and online purchasing for a significant portion of the population. In the midst of this crisis, calls are growing for pharmacies to be shut down if the situation deteriorates to the point where life-saving medications are solely available online.

Saeed Mughal, a concerned resident, shared the plight of his family member in dire need of epilepsy medication. He said he had to endure a long queue outside a pharmacy, only to purchase a box of tablets originally priced at Rs250 for a staggering Rs1,200.

The public has urged Health Secretary, Chakwal deputy commissioner, and the drug inspector to take swift action against the drug mafia.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 6^th, 2023.