Drug prices have increased 50 to 70 percent in the past few weeks in Multan and also other parts of Southern Punjab. President, Punjab Chemists and Druggists Association (PCDA), Muhammad Akhtar Butt, has stated that many common medicines, such as painkillers, are out of stock now.
He said pharmaceutical companies were planning another increase in the prices of the medicines. One important locally manufactured drug, Angisaid, which is used by angina patients, is also not available on the market. Similarly femidol and Actifed-P are not available. Moreover, commonly used products, such as inhalers, are also in very short supply at drug stores.
Asthmatics are complaining they have to buy inhalers at higher prices compounding the miseries of an already over-stretched populace, vital medicines are starting to disappear from the chemist shops. From life-saving drugs to aspirin, several medicines are either not available in the market or are being sold at inflated prices.
The price of the inhaler is set to increase once again," Taqueer Bukhari, a wholesaler, said, adding that prices of Paracetamol, Thyroxin, Augmentin, and other cold and fever remedies have been increased.
Bukhari also said that due to the onset of winter, fever and respiratory ailments were common, and that pharmaceutical companies were well aware of this fact. "The demand for medicines has increased significantly due to the severe cold conditions, which means people are prepared to pay more for the drugs."
Another drugstore owner, Akhtar Butt, said, "Antibiotics are essential treatment for fever and other common diseases."