RECENTLY producers of all major intravenous fluids have more than doubled the prices. For hospitalised patients parenteral fluids administration is a must to provide them the required volume of water, salts, minerals, calories and nutrition.

With this increase, a patient’s bill will enhance. This will cause financial burden on him to get proper treatment. For intravenous use of fluid, a drip set is also a must, raising the cost further. Thus it would be beyond the reach of poor patients. There will be arguments at the time of final billings in hospitals.

Mostly general practitioners use these intravenous drips to treat their patients. What will happen when they will buy expensive drips and patients have to pay more? While the doctor’s practice will receive a setback, the patient will suffer too.

After devolution of the federal health ministry, there is no mechanism and price-controlling authority. Because of this, drip producers have taken advantage. After transfer of all powers to the province, it is still not clear how the health ministry will control drug registration, as well as the price.

Because of high consumption due to flood and dengue outbreak, producers took advantage of this gap. Therefore, the authorities concerned should take immediate notice of this unjust and unfair increase.

DR ALFRED CHARLES Karachi