KARACHI: The Pakistan Islamic Medical Association (PIMA) has expressed serious concern over the steep rise in prices of essential medicines during the past year following the implementation of the deregulation policy.
According to PIMA, the sharp increase in the cost of commonly used and life-saving medicines has made treatment unaffordable for many patients, even those belonging to middle-income households.
Prof. Atif Hafeez Siddiqui, Central President of PIMA, warned that the situation has become alarming in a country where less than one percent of the GDP is allocated to healthcare. He said the combination of limited public health resources and soaring medicine prices has severely restricted access to essential healthcare for ordinary citizens.
He urged the government to take immediate corrective measures in the public interest, stressing that while encouraging investment and local pharmaceutical manufacturing is important, it should not be done at the cost of patients’ welfare.
PIMA called for a comprehensive review of the deregulation framework and the establishment of effective mechanisms to ensure the affordability and availability of essential medicines across Pakistan.
