Sindh CM warns against artificial shortage of Insulin, other drugs 

KARACHI: Sindh Caretaker Chief Minister Justice Maqbool Baqar has issued a stern warning against any artificial shortage of critical medications, including Insulin, rabies vaccine and antihypertensive drugs in the province, directing the health department to take immediate measures to ensure adequate stocks of these medicines in every government hospital for the patients.

"I will not tolerate any patient suffering due to artificial shortages or black marketing of medicines," Justice Baqar said in a directive to the health department.

The directive came in response to a complaint regarding a severe scarcity of Insulin, rabies vaccine and antihypertensive drugs in both government hospitals and the open market. Taking notice of the complaint, he sought a comprehensive report on the current stock of these medicines.

According to the report provided by the health department, there were 2,955 vials of rabies vaccine, 84,252 vials of Insulin, and 200,367 packs of antihypertensive drugs available in government hospital stocks.

The report on the availability of these medicines in the open market revealed that 187,138 packs of antihypertensive drugs, 20,700 vials of rabies vaccine, and 23,486 vials/pens of Insulin (Anti-Diabetics) were available.

The report identified two companies -- M/s Getz Pharma and M/s Elli Lilly Pakistan, as producers of Insulin. While M/s Getz Pharma assured the health department of sufficient production to meet market demand, M/s Elli Lilly cited a delay in the approval letter from the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (Drap), Islamabad, as a challenge.

Justice Baqar promptly took up the matter with Drap authorities, urging them to ensure timely approval of import letters for Insulin to prevent any inconvenience to patients.

Regarding the rabies vaccine, the report noted that it was an imported item, and the National Institute of Health (NIH) Islamabad was the sole institute producing it in Pakistan. However, the report highlighted that the NIH's generation capacity was insufficient to meet the timely needs of hospitals.

The chief minister engaged with the federal government to secure vaccine availability in the market, acknowledging that the registration, manufacturing, import, and pricing of such drugs fell under the purview of the federal government (Drap), while the sale was a provincial subject.

Justice Baqar directed the health department to activate its drug inspectors to ensure the availability of these crucial medicines in the market, ensuring a zero-tolerance policy towards black marketing or artificial shortages.