KARACHI: The Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) has condemned the increase in drug prices including that of essential and life-saving medicines, demanding that the federal government review its decision and withdraw a notification.

“We categorically reject this price hike. Unfortunately, this is the 11th time that the present government has increased drug prices during its three years’ tenure,” a PMA statement said.

This would compound difficulties of the poor already facing high inflation and bad economic situation in the country, it added.

“The most painful aspect of this development is that prices of essential and life-saving drugs have also been increased. This is against the fundamental rights of the people, half of which live below poverty line in the country. Life-saving medicines must always be available at low prices.”

The association also cited several serious health issues being faced by the vast majority of the country’s population and emphasised that the government in difficult times should have provided relief to people and reduced prices of drugs, most of which were now out of the reach of the common man.

“It’s a known fact that inflation has already caused an alarming increase in food prices and the prices of other commodities of daily use. In such conditions, when there is scarcity of health facilities at public hospitals, this raise in medicine prices will add to people’s misery who are already spending 50 to 60 per cent of their income on medicine and treatment,” it said.

The association urged the government to improve public-sector hospitals and provide free medicines to all patients.

Published in Dawn, August 28th, 2021