KARACHI: Pakistanis collectively used more medicines this year to calm their nerves and address problems related to brain function than last year, official sales data indicated.

Sales of medicines related to the central nervous system (CNS) ailments, including brain, spinal cord and psychiatric issues, posted a growth of 15 per cent in the last one year while antibiotics, cardiovascular and dermatological medicines have shown a growth of 13pc each.

The total value of sales for drugs used for CNS ailments came to Rs23 billion in a year while antibiotics accounted for Rs62.6bn, followed by Rs20bn for cardiovascular medicines.

With a 12pc growth in the sales of medicines related to alimentary tract and metabolism (digestive, stomach and diabetes), the value comes to Rs60.2bn.

Respiratory system medicines sales valued around Rs20bn, with 8pc growth recorded in one year.

Medicines for muscular ailments have shown a yearly growth of 10pc, with sales touching Rs20.2bn. Dermatological medicines sales in the last one year stood at Rs9bn.

Sale of drugs for GU and hormones (urine and kidney) showed 12pc yearly growth, valued at Rs8bn a year while sales of medicines for systemic hormone amounted to Rs2.2bn, with yearly 11pc growth.

Sale of medicines for cancer registered 6pc yearly growth, with a sale volume of around Rs5bn.

A 10pc growth in the sale of drugs for ear, nose and throat was witnessed in one year, with total sales volume of Rs5bn.

A total of Rs9bn was spent for drugs for blood thinning (blood plus B. Forming Organs), showing a yearly growth of 9pc. Sale of hormones and glands medication rose by 11pc, with sale volume of Rs2.3bn.

Saeed Allawala, former chairman of Pakistan Pharma­ceutical Manufac­turers Association (PPMA), told Dawn that the country’s total sales of medicines by local and multinational drugmakers is expected to reach Rs268bn in 2015 as compared to Rs240bn in 2014.

Out of this, the share of local manufacturers in 2015 in terms of sales is estimated at Rs165bn as compared to Rs143bn last year, he said.

Sale of medicines by multinational companies in 2015 is likely to reach Rs103bn as compared to Rs97bn last year, the PPMA chief said.

He added that Augmentin emerged as the highest selling brand with Rs3.92bn as compared to Rs3.60bn in 2014.

Commenting on the expected impact on drugmakers profile or the market as Pakistan and China draw closer economically, he ruled out a possible change in market dynamics in foreseeable future.

Saeed said there is no joint venture between Chinese and Pakistani medicine makers at the moment.

“I do not see scope for joint venture in near future because the cost of production in China is still low and there is no advantage for the Pakistani firms to set up a joint venture here,” he added.

Published in Dawn, December 10th, 2015