On my last visit, my doctor prescribed me a recently introduced drug, with the option to buy a local or a branded, imported drug, which was naturally more expensive. However, when I went to purchase the medicine, I was shocked to learn the difference in price between the two.
The local drug had a MRP of Rs 86 for 14 tablets printed on the box, whereas the MRP of the imported medicine was Rs 1400 for the same number of tablets. Thinking that there must be a mistake, I rang up my doctor again the next day, but he confirmed that both medicines were just as good to treat my case.
Unless I am wrong, the difference between the two medicines is almost 1527%. Now to me, this is a daylight robbery and there is no justification for such a huge price difference.
At the same, the markets are flooded with substandard, adulterated, spurious and counterfeit foods, beverages and medicines and consumers continue to be poisoned and cheated by glossy foods and beverages.
In the absence of an effective law and the enforcement of existing laws, consumers in Sindh are being cheated at every stage. Unless there is a political will to correct this deteriorating situation, marketers will continue to make unjustified profits and consumers will continue to be deceived and cheated.