KARACHI: Taking notice of shortage of necessary medicines in the province, Sindh caretaker Health Minister Dr Saad Niaz discussed the issue with representatives of provincial chapters of two main doctors’ bodies –the Young Doctors’ Association and the Pakistan Medical Association’s.
The meeting, also attended by Sindh Health Secretary Manzoor Abbas Rizvi and Chief Drug Inspector Dr Ghulam Ali Lakho, discussed the ways the shortage of medicine, manufacturing and import issues were affecting the drugs supply in the market.
The issue was taken up by the minister after reports of short supply of different necessary drugs in the market, including insulin, antibiotics, disinfectants, antidepressants etc, causing problems for patients. The meeting was informed that as the drug shortage and other issues were related to the federal government, the provincial health authorities have notified the concerned quarters about hardship, asking for necessary measures.
It was also informed that shortage has caused unauthorized hikes in prices of drugs in the province, further complicating the patients problems amid high inflation.
Dr Saad Niaz also took up the matter with caretaker Federal Health Minister Dr Nadeem Jan and they discussed how drug manufacturers are also facing problems due to rising cost of production, distribution etc. However, they vowed to resolve the issues on priority.
