LAHORE: Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar has taken notice of the shortage of fever medicine and has sought a report from the health secretary on the matter.

He has directed the health department to take all possible steps to ensure availability of fever medicine at medical stores. He said that the manufacturers should be contacted to increase the production of the medicine.

The PML-N strongly condemned the shortage of the medicine used for treating the Covid-19.

PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb and Opposition Leader in Punjab Assembly Hamza Shehbaz, in their separate statements, said the disappearance of the medicine from the market during the fifth wave of the coronavirus was extremely shameful.

Ms Aurangzeb said a government that came into being through political ‘blackmailing’ was allowing the black marketing of fever medicine, liquefied natural gas (LNG), fertiliser and other essentials.

Hamza expressed his concern at the disappearance of the medicine.

He regretted that the ‘incompetent’ government could not ensure smooth supply of a common medicine used to cure fever and the medicine was being sold in the black market.

PCR TEST: Despite the government’s move of fixing the PCR test rate at Rs4,800 per test in private labs, the private sector has not reduced its rate of the test.

The Punjab Healthcare Commission had fixed the rate of the PCR test to increase the number of Covid tests. It had warned the hospitals and laboratories of action in case of overcharging. It had warned the laboratories of action and heavy fines also in case of violation.

However, it seems that the government could not ensure implementation of the move and its warnings had had no effect on the private sector. A renowned laboratory on the Jail Road is still charging Rs6,500 for a PCR test.

Published in Dawn, January 31st, 2022