Allah Nawaz Khan
Inflation in Pakistan is rising sharply, and medicine prices have increased tremendously. Treatment has become extremely difficult. According to reports, prices of various medicines have risen by up to 100%, while some medicines have seen a staggering increase of 241%. Health issues were already widespread, but the surge in medicine prices has further worsened the situation. An ordinary Pakistani is already struggling to make ends meet; if they fall ill, they cannot afford treatment. Due to continuously rising medicine prices, the lives of millions are now in severe danger.
Patients who require regular medication have been forced to stop taking them. The prices of life-saving medicines have also skyrocketed, and this increase is proving fatal for countless patients. Even a simple fever tablet has become extremely expensive, and a poor person cannot even afford to buy a basic pill. Due to the weak control of the government, pharmaceutical companies are continuously increasing the prices of their medicines at will.
The government also fails to provide adequate healthcare facilities, making it impossible to control diseases. In big cities, government hospitals may have some facilities, but in rural areas, even basic health centers are non-existent. Where basic health centers do exist, medicines are almost unavailable. Nowadays, reports of shortages of medicines and other facilities are also emerging from large hospitals.
Private treatment is extremely expensive because, apart from medicines, diagnostic equipment and tests are also very costly. An ordinary person cannot afford treatment for heart disease, diabetes, cancer, mental illnesses, kidney diseases, or other serious conditions. Due to lack of treatment, the death rate is increasing. When compared to developed countries, it becomes clear that Pakistan has a higher mortality rate. Those who survive often remain victims of various diseases. Sometimes, even treating a minor illness becomes extremely difficult, and if timely treatment is not provided, the disease can become life-threatening in the future.
It is true that the price increase of some medicines was due to compulsion. Various justifications are given for these hikes. One major reason is the rise in the dollar rate. Medicines and raw materials are imported from abroad and purchased in dollars. When the dollar becomes expensive, the cost of medicines and raw materials increases. Fuel is also costly; since factories use electricity and other energy sources, the rise in fuel prices has led to higher medicine costs. Transporting medicines from one place to another is also an expensive process due to rising oil prices. Raw materials have become more expensive, and global factors have disrupted the medicine supply chain, resulting in price increases.
Government policies are such that medicine prices cannot be effectively controlled. Moreover, government oversight on companies is extremely weak, allowing companies to set prices as they wish. There may be other reasons as well that lead to price hikes. Due to these increases, infant and maternal mortality rates are also rising significantly. Another serious issue is the sale of counterfeit medicines. These fake medicines are packaged so well that they appear original, but instead of providing relief, they cause harm.
The health crisis in Pakistan is deepening day by day. The increase in diseases is highly alarming, but the tragedy is that expensive treatment is beyond the reach of the common Pakistani. The government should establish a system that ensures medicines are available at reasonable prices and are of genuine quality. Life-saving essential medicines, in particular, should be available at affordable rates so that deaths can be reduced.
Many people suffering from chronic illnesses have been forced to stop their medicines because they cannot afford them. This problem is especially severe for those who need medication for their entire lives. Not only have medicine prices increased, but the cost of medical tests has also risen dramatically. Sometimes, doctors prescribe expensive and unnecessary tests because they receive commissions. Members of the medical community are requested to consider the patient’s financial hardship and avoid prescribing unnecessary tests.
Often, doctors prescribe additional medicines not related to the main illness, which further increases the burden on poor patients. If only the relevant medicine for the disease is prescribed, even a poor patient will be able to afford treatment.
Due to poverty and inflation, many people avoid going to the doctor when they fall ill because they cannot afford expensive medicines. In many cases, they resort to home remedies, which can worsen the condition. The government must ensure the availability of medicines for all Pakistanis. If providing free medicines is not possible, then affordable medicines must be made accessible to everyone.
Many patients do not undergo surgery because they lack the funds. If free surgical facilities are not available, they should not be so expensive that an ordinary person cannot afford them. The government needs to formulate policies that enable the common man to get proper medical treatment.
