Pasban Business Forum slams soaring medicine prices

KARACHI:

Pasban Democratic Party Business Forum President Sheikh Waseemuddin on Thursday expressed grave concern over a 300% increase in the prices of life-saving medicines, leaving the underprivileged population without access to basic healthcare.

In a statement, he said that inflation and unemployment have already deprived many of medical facilities, and the combination of medicine shortages and rising costs is akin to "murdering the poor." Waseemuddin slammed the government's failure in managing public health, saying that its promises to reduce inflation stand in stark contrast to the soaring prices of food and medicines.

Imported life-saving drugs are vanishing from the market, while counterfeit medicines are spreading fast, he said while accusing the "drug mafia" of exploiting vulnerable citizens with arbitrary pricing, while the government and drug regulatory authorities appear powerless to rein them in.

Waseemuddin also pointed out that the colder weather has caused a sharp rise in cases of flu, colds, and coughs.