Pakistan is facing a critical shortage of over 100 essential medicines, including life-saving drugs such as cancer medications and morphine. The shortage has been attributed to delayed price revisions by the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan, which has disrupted pharmaceutical production in the country.
The core issue affecting medicine availability stems from rising costs of raw materials and currency depreciation, which have significantly impacted manufacturing expenses for pharmaceutical companies. Without timely price adjustments from regulators to reflect these increased production costs, manufacturers face economic pressure that has disrupted their ability to produce and supply medicines.
The shortage affects a broad range of critical medications, with cancer drugs and morphine—used for pain management in serious illnesses—among those in short supply. This disruption threatens patient access to treatments for life-threatening conditions and chronic diseases requiring ongoing pharmaceutical management.
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