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Karachi [Pakistan]Aug. 12 (ANI): The growing conflict between Pakistan’s drug regulator and drug manufacturers has blocked the production of several medicines, leading to shortages in the market.
Notably, a list of around 40 different medicines compiled by health professionals at leading public and private hospitals, Dawn reported, adding that several locally produced tablets, syrups, injections and ointments or drops agent is no longer available.
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A senior pharmacist on the team that compiled the list for authorities in July told Dawn that the drugs included prescriptions for a variety of conditions.
“It’s not over. There are also no drugs on the market for people with tuberculosis, epilepsy, Parkinson’s, cardiovascular disease and other conditions … but I don’t know why this has not caused any buzz,” he said.
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According to Dawn, the brand of lithium carbonate used to treat mental health problems, often referred to as a “suicide prevention drug,” is not available on the market.
In addition, essential medicines, including methylphenidate for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children and clonazepam drops and tablets for epilepsy in children and adults, have not been on the market in the past few weeks.
Health professionals are already starting to feel the effects of the crisis and are seeking immediate intervention from the authorities.
The problem behind the shortage stems from the fact that producers have been complaining about rising raw material prices in the international market, leading to higher production costs, which they insist can only be solved by raising prices by 40 percent across the board.
The pharmaceutical industry claims that local manufacturers have stopped importing raw materials due to rising prices in the international market, and that making medicines is no longer “feasible” for them because the government refuses to let them raise prices.
This has forced several manufacturers to review their business plans, Dawn said, adding that if this continues, there will no longer be more than 200 generic drugs on the market.
However, authorities called the industry response “somewhat exaggerated”, saying it appeared to be an attempt to gain approval to raise drug prices across the board. Although no one from the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) has spoken publicly, an official from the regulator told Dawn on condition of anonymity that the shortage is not as dire as it has been described.
“There are drug shortages, but not as severe as claimed,” he dismissed claims of drug shortages and a protracted crisis. (ANI)
(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from the Syndicated News feed, the body of the content may not have been modified or edited by LatestLY staff)
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