ISLAMABAD: While the Punjab government has awarded ‘Medicine Price List’ for the procurement of medicines for public sector hospitals, Pakistan Young Pharm­acist Association (PYPA) has written a letter to the Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, urging him to implement same rates for general consumers.

The list revealed several life-saving drugs are being sold at prices up to 4,000 per cent or 40 times higher in the open market compared to the government procurement rates.

The letter, signed by PYPA General Secretary Dr Furqan Ibrahim and available with Dawn, stated that medicine prices have been fixed by the provincial health department for government hospitals across the province on July 26.

It claimed that the Punjab government has decided to purchase Montelukast, a daily oral medication used to prevent asthma attacks, at Rs3.07 per unit, whereas it is being sold to patients in the market for Rs93, which is 3,029 per cent higher.

Similarly, the provincial government has fixed the price of Omeprazole 20mg, used to treat excessive stomach acid, at Rs1.7 but it is available in the market for Rs67.85, which is 3,991pc higher.

Published in Dawn, August 4th, 2025