KARACHI: SM Qaiser Sajjad, Honorary Secretary General, Pakistan Medical Association, Centre, condemned the depreciation of the value of the Pakistani Rupee for the increase in prices of medicines.
As per SM Qaiser Sajjad, medicines and diagnostic reports are facing a hike, and in future, their prices will be further increased.
He further stated that all the ingredients of medicines, devices for physiotherapies, diagnosis, as well as a majority of raw material for the formulations of medication are imported, and that is the root cause of inflation in the healthcare sector.
SM Qaiser Sajjad informed that paracetamol is only known by its brand name "Panadol", and therefore, a shortage strikes the markets when Pakistani population only opt for this specific brand, when it comes to Paracetamol. This causes a shortage of medicines in the local market. He requested the Government of Pakistan to make a policy so people and healthcare professionals refer to drugs as their generic names, not brand names. This would ensure that the citizens are educated regarding basic medicines, and their scientific names, so that they may opt for other brands in case of shortage.
SM Qaiser Sajjad recommended that political stability is imperative for the improvement and advancement of Pakistan. He commented that the current affairs of the Pakistani healthcare are worrisome. He predicted that immediate action is necessary, otherwise a more worse situation could be inevitable.