Karachi, Pasban Democratic Party Vice Chairman Abdul Hakim Quaid has raised urgent concerns about the shortage of life-saving drugs and the escalating costs in the market. He criticized the government and drug mafias for the current crisis, questioning the effectiveness of existing mechanisms to control drug prices and calling for immediate government action to address the situation.

According to Pasban Democratic Party, Abdul Hakim Quaid emphasized the dire consequences of the drug shortages and high prices, which he said are threatening the lives of the poor and middle class. He pointed out that life-saving medicines and essential health services are increasingly inaccessible, attributing the scarcity and inflated prices to manipulative practices by drug mafias. These groups, he claimed, hoard essential medicines to create artificial shortages, then sell them at exorbitant prices.

Quaid argued that the government must prioritize the development of a health policy that ensures affordable drugs and treatment. He called for strict action against those involved in stockpiling and overcharging for medicines, stating that passive approaches are ineffective. The disappearance of imported and common medicines from the markets signifies a larger issue that demands a robust response from both the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (Drap) and other relevant government agencies.

The Vice Chairman’s statement also highlighted that diseases such as diabetes, which affects 27% of Pakistan’s population, are being neglected due to the unavailability of essential medications like insulin and blood pressure drugs nationwide. Furthermore, he noted shortages in vaccines, anesthetics, and drugs for treating kidney diseases and cancer, stressing the critical need for these drugs in the country.