ISLAMABAD, April 12: As many as 98 medicines including essential as well as life-saving drugs have been in short supply since the imposition of 15 per cent General Sales Tax (GST) on drugs.

A survey conducted by a non-governmental organization said the artificial shortage had hit the entire country to add to the miseries of patients who had already been finding it difficult to buy these drugs in the wake of an uncontrolled increase in drug prices after the imposition of GST.

Revealing the results of the survey, Dr Zafar Mirza, the executive coordinator of the Network for Consumer Protection, said the drugs in short supply included those recommended for high blood pressure, poisoning, epilepsy, bacterial infections (antibiotics), thyroid gland disorders, psychiatric problems, tuberculosis, migraine and organ-transplant. The survey was conducted in cities like Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Lahore, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Peshawar and Quetta.

Mr Mirza demanded of the government to withdraw the decision to impose GST on drugs. At least, 478 Essential Drugs must be exempted from the tax, he maintained.

He urged the government to ensure regular supply of medicines in the market by penalizing the hoarders.

A chemist told Dawn that the manufacturers were holding back the stocks to add the GST to price tags. They were doing so despite the fact that these medicines had already come out of the factory, he added.

Dr Mirza also criticized the Central Board of Revenue’s (CBR) failing to devise a mechanism for GST implementation. Dr Mirza alleged that besides the multinational companies, distributors, wholesalers and chemists were also responsible for the shortage of drugs.

Dr Mirza said the health ministry had failed to fulfil its statutory responsibility under the Drugs Act 1976 (Licensing, Registration and Advertising) Rules, Section 4, which required of it to ensure “regular and adequate” supply of every registered drug in the market.

The medicines in short supply are Jumex (tablet), Titan (injection), Epival (tablet/syrup), Cecon (tablet), Erythrocin, Klaricid (injection), Hytrin (tablet), Theoplus (100 and 300mg tablets), MydriacyI, Naphacon (eye drops), Intron A (injection), BricanyI, Pulmicort (50 and 250meq inhaler), Losec (capsule), Cefspan, Megace, Vepesid, Clenil A (nebuliser), Butovent, Mydricatum (eye drops), Lorin NSA, Ribavarin (tablet), Salazodine (tablet), Kemadrin, Lanoxin, Thyroxin, Ventolin (inhaler), Imuran, Ventide (inhaler), Angised, Migril, Marzine (tablet, injection), Loprin (tablet), Ulsanic (syrup), Buscopan (tablet), Tenormin (25mg), Pentazogon (injection), Risperdal (4mg), Dijex MP, Distalgesic, Deanxit (tablet), Cipram, Oflamac, Tienam, Allergix (syrup), Viskaldix (eye ointment), Qalsan, Tandegyl, Mosegar, Clomfranil, CaC-1000, Voltral (tablet, gel), Androxon, Dilzem (tablet), Deltacortil, Norvasc (tablet), Ancid (tablet), Unicap M&T (capsule), Dalacin (500mg capsule), Solucortef (injection), Xanaz (tablet), Solumedrol (injection), Dalacin (300mg injection), Grysotab, Silirex (syrup), Dormicum (tablet), Bezalip (tablet), Lexotabil, Valium (tablet), Rovigon (tablet), Phenergan (injection), Lexilium, Serenace, Tranxene (capsule), Sosegon (injection), Hydrylin DM (syrup), Nuberol, Calan (40mg, 80 and 240mg SR tablets), Tramal SR (capsule), Sustac, Metodine (tablet), Spiromide, Augmentin, Fefol Vit (capsule), Engeris B (injection), Orbenin, Ampiclox, Spectraban (lotion), Phenoharbitone (tablet), Wymox Wydrate Plus (tablet, syrup), Nilstat (tablet, cream), Isordil (tablet), Simeco (tablet), Mucaine (tablet), Tazocin, Caltrate D, Debritone Elixir.