Pakistan’s Economic Crisis Affects Healthcare System As Hospitals Running Out Of Drugs: Report

Pakistan Economic Crisis: Patients are forced to suffer in hospitals that are running short of medicines as local pharmaceutical businesses are compelled to cut production, as per local media reports.

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The ongoing economic crisis in Pakistan has had a significant impact on the healthcare sector, with patients struggling to obtain necessary medicines. The country's inability to import essential medicines or Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) utilised in domestic production has been hampered by a lack of foreign exchange reserves. As a result, as people suffer in hospitals, local pharmaceutical firms have been obliged to reduce production. Due to a lack of medications and medical equipment, doctors are unable to perform procedures.

According to Pakistani media reports, operating rooms have less than the two-week stock of anaesthetics required for sensitive surgery such as heart, cancer, and kidney transplants. The situation may also result in job losses in Pakistani hospitals, exacerbating people's misery.

The pharmaceutical industry has blamed the financial system for the healthcare system's dilemma, stating that commercial banks are not granting new Letters of Credit (LCs) for their imports.

According to a report by the news agency ANI, Pakistan's pharma industry is heavily reliant on imports, with about 95 per cent of pharmaceuticals requiring raw materials from other countries, especially India and China. Most medicine producers have had their imported materials held up at the Karachi port due to a lack of dollars in the banking system.

According to the drug manufacturing industry, the cost of producing drugs is constantly growing due to rising fuel and transportation costs, as well as the severe depreciation of the Pakistani rupee.

The Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) recently urged for government intervention to avoid a calamity from occurring. Nevertheless, rather than taking immediate action, the authorities are currently assessing the magnitude of the shortage.

According to drug retailers in Pakistan's Punjab, government survey teams conducted field visits to determine the lack of critical medicines. The shops stated that the majority of customers are being impacted by a lack of some basic but vital drugs. Panadol, Insulin, Brufen, Disprin, Calpol, Tegral, Nimesulide, Hepamerz, Buscopan, and Rivotril are instances of these medicines.

Earlier this month, Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers' Association (PPMA) Central Chairman Syed Farooq Bukhari stated that 20-25 percent of pharmaceutical output is now sluggish, according to The Express Tribune. He went on to say, "The worst medicine crisis in the country would erupt if current policies (ban on imports) are sustained for the next up to five weeks."

Early this month, the Pakistani government and IMF staff completed the ninth assessment of the USD 6.5 billion bailout package without reaching an agreement at the staff level. The Pakistani government hoped that they would be able to persuade the IMF to execute the conditions gradually. Islamabad's hopes were crushed, however, during the IMF mission's 10-day visit to Pakistan.

(With Inputs From Agencies)