Paracetamol being sold in black market, Karachi faces shortage

KARACHI: The pharmaceutical companies have increased the prices of life–saving drugs while few are being sold in black in medicines markets. 

Medicine, like paracetamol, is being sold in black markets. Multiple pharmaceutical companies have stopped the supply of various drugs. 

The pharmaceutical companies have made the desired increase in the prices of the drugs. Karachi witnessed an unannounced up to 50 per cent increase in drug prices. Multiple pharmaceutical companies have stopped the supply of various drugs. 

A high number of malaria and dengue cases are being reported in Sindh. However, medicines for their treatment are unavailable in the province. 

Medicines for blood pressure, diabetes, headache and hypertension are scarce, hence expensive in the market. Paracetamol and aspirin are being sold for Rs30-40 each tablet. The tranquilisers Alp and Xenix have disappeared from the market. Prices of blood pressure drugs Asgard and Sofix have doubled. 

Prices of diabetes tablets Glucophage, Amral and Investa Plus have increased by 30 per cent. Acidity medicine Omiprazol is being sold for Rs300 from Rs170. 

Prices of inhalers used for asthma have shot up by 40 per cent. Drugs of chemotherapy are being sold at double prices in the market. 

A pharmacist, Fawad Hasan, said drug companies were manufacturing the medicines in small quantities, and suppliers were selling them at double prices at pharmacies. He maintained that malaria drugs were not available even in black markets. 

“Raw material of the medicines is imported from China or India,” said President Wholesale Chemist Pakistan Atif Blu. He said the raw material prices were paid in dollars, and since the dollar has largely strengthened against the Pakistani rupee, they were forced to sell medicines at high prices.