LAHORE, Nov 23: The inexpensive but essential medicines are on the black market due to an artificial shortage despite the health ministry claims that it has stepped up its efforts for a pragmatic reform of the sector and is swooping in on the medical stores holding pseudo licences, curbing quackery, streamlining the medical infrastructure and providing optimum health cover to the people.

A survey of drug markets revealed that there were two reasons for the shortage. The number one reason is that despite a tremendous demand these inexpensive drugs do not offer as much profit margin to the manufacturers as do the expensive products. Secondly, these low-priced essential drugs have found a receptive market in many countries and the unscrupulous elements are pushing them into these markets illegally.

Pendura P.A. 12 lac is an injection manufactured by a multinational. It is an essential medicine used in the treatment of a heart disease. The retail price of this essential heart-treatment injection is Rs14 but it is on the black market at more than seven times the price.

Buscopan is an essential pain-killer manufactured by a multinational. Both the 10 milligram tablet and the compound versions of its are available in the market at a premium way above the fixed retail price. The 100-tablet pack is available in the market at Rs150 — double its retail price of Rs75 while the compound is available at more than double the Rs85 fixed price at Rs200.

The Phenobarbeton tablet, manufactured by a number of companies, is another such drug. A 50-tablet bottle of this drug used in the treatment of brain-related disorders, including epilepsy, carries a retail price tag of just Rs8. However, due to acute shortage this extremely essential drug is available in the market at five times the retail price.

These are just a few examples of the nefarious activities taking place under the very nose of the officials of health ministry. There is a whole range of other such essential but inexpensive drugs which are no more inexpensive thanks to the profiteers.

Other drugs targeted by profiteers are used in the treatment of respiratory problems, ulcers, blood pressure, malaria, pain, eye infection and so on and so forth.

Sources in the wholesale market blamed the manufacturers for the shortage. “The companies have made it a habit to short-supply a number of drugs. For instance, if a wholesale dealer places orders for Rs100,000 with a company the delivery is always short of a number of items, mainly the low-priced but essential drugs.

“Not only that these ‘drugs for the poor’ are in perpetual short supply but they are also being smuggled to many other countries of the region, particularly to Afghanistan and from there to the Central Asian Republics. The other major markets for these low-priced essential drugs are Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Iran.” —PPI