May 13, 2003	Tuesday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 10, 1424

Please Visit our Sponsor (Ads open in separate window).

ISLAMABAD, May 12: The health ministry has claimed that there is no critical shortage of life-saving drugs in the market.

A statement issued on Monday said alternative brands of other companies were available throughout the country. It said the ministry was maintaining a constant vigil on the quality and availability of these medicines through appropriate measures to facilitate the public.

Dawn on May 8 had reported that a number of life-saving drugs used for treating thyroid disorders, heart diseases, mental disorders, malaria, asthma and blood pressures were in short supply. This reporter stands by its story.

The medicines which are short in the market are: Thyroxine, Ventolin solution, used through nebulizer; Sufratool bandage; Valium injections, new Mercazole for thyroid patients; Dilanten capsules for mentally-retarded children, Nopran syrup, Kemadrin tablets and Pacitine for mentally-retarded patients, Delta Cartril, a steroid in wide spread; Basoquine syrup for malaria, and Adalat capsules for control of blood pressure.

A number of drug stores still claimed that the supply of these medicines was not prompt and too meagre to meet the demand.

A local chemist said the shortage of majority of these medicines still persisted despite the fact that orders after orders had been placed.

He conceded that the substitutes for few drugs were available but customers insisted on the purchase of brand leader mainly because doctors prescribed these medicines. “It is very difficult to convince a customer to purchase the substitutes.”