Karachi: Responding to media reports of shortage of paracetamol in country, Minister for Health Abdul Qadir Patel termed these reports as “PTI propaganda” and said that there was “no shortage” of medicine. At a press conference here, he announced a countrywide crackdown against those involved in producing and spreading spurious and counterfeit medicines. Clarification from government came after PTI ally Moonis Elahi claimed that inflation-weary Pakistanis are now facing a shortage of Panadol and Shehbaz Sharif government has “no solution” to people’s miseries.

Accompanied by Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) Chief Asim Rauf, Patel accused PTI of spreading misleading information regarding shortage of paracetamol and promoting a particular brand of painkiller, adding that PTI leadership has “no pain” for flood victims. “Actual situation is that due to an increase in number of Dengue fever cases and a growing demand of medicines in flood-affected areas and other factors, leading brand of paracetamol is under stress but due to rumours spread by PTI leadership, people have started hoarding this medicine, which is causing temporary shortage in some of areas,” he said. DRAP has sent several senior officers to Karachi to monitor production of paracetamol, especially production of its leading brand, Patel said. Claiming that pressure was being exerted to increase prices of medicines, he said PTI-led government increased prices of medicines thrice in their tenure, adding that they increased prices of 597 medicines by 179 percent. Responding to a query regarding an increase in prices of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) or raw material used for manufacturing of medicines, Patel said for first time in history of Pakistan, DRAP is going to register raw material and fix its prices, so that realistic prices of medicines could be fixed in country.

“I have directed DRAP to start registration process of raw material used in manufacturing of drugs like it gives registration to medicines.” Responding to a query regarding sale of medicines with generic names, Patel said he was in favour of such sales but claimed that pharmaceutical industry was a strong opponent of this idea.

Published in The Daily National Courier, September, 14 2022

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