Several key medicines and nonessential drugs are not available at pharmacies as black market flourishes . The shortage is causing serious problems for patients and in some cases has put lives in danger . Manufacturers have stopped or reduced the import of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients API or raw material for manufacturing medicines .
Industry sources blamed the growing value of US dollar for stoppage of imports . Despite the fact that many medicines are temperaturesensitive many essential medicines are being smuggled in ordinary trucks without cold chain management . Black marketeers are selling the stock available with them at exorbitant prices but nobody is willing to safeguard the interests of patients .
Sindh health authorities on Sunday decided to take police and district administration on board for controlling the crisis of drugs shortage and the menace of smuggling of medicines . The authorities have sought a report from the relevant officials on their action within hours.
Sindh caretaker Health Minister Dr Saad Khalid Niaz agreed that there were some elements which were needed to be fixed at provincial level to improve the situation to some extent to improve at provincial levels to improve situation to a provincial level .
For instance an immunoglobulin which was available till a few weeks back at Rs is now being sold between Rs to Rs is being sold by black marketeers at ex-orbitant price . For example, an immunogobulin that was available at Rs was now being offered between Rs-to-£1,000 to £1,500.
For instance, an Immunoglobulins was available until a few years ago at Rs to £200,000. For example an immunoplayer was available to be available at $1,200. For . For Example an immunglobulin was available for a few months ago at $.50. For.
