Rawalpindi:
The prices of a wide range of medicines in Azad Bazar and Rawalpindi’s Bohar Bazar wholesale drug center have gone up sharply, increasing by 50% to 500%.
Essential medicines, including those for diabetes and hypertension, antibiotics, stomach conditions and cough treatments, have all seen significant price increases.
In the open market, the price of an insulin injection device has increased from Rs 2,200 to Rs 4,720 – more than Rs 2,500.
The price of vitamin B supplements has also increased, from Rs 100 to Rs 500 to Rs 600. Also, a package of indigestion and acidity medicine has increased from Rs. 530 to Rs. 620 after an increase of Rs. 90. The price of nutritional supplements and vitamin tablets has increased from Rs 480 to Rs 510.
A particularly significant increase was recorded in thyroid medicines, which went up from 85 rupees to 290 rupees. Meanwhile, general typhoid treatment has increased from Rs 805 to Rs 930 after an increase of Rs 125. The prices of several other life-saving drugs have also gone up.
Critics have described the increase as “intolerable”, pointing out that insulin devices costing between Rs 2,000 and Rs 5,000 effectively deprive low-income patients of access to essential treatment, and have called for immediate government intervention.
Arif Ali, secretary of the Medical Store Retailers Association, along with Dr Zeeshan, says pharmaceutical companies have implemented “shocking” increases in many products.
They added that insulin, which is vital for managing diabetes, has doubled in price.
the box
Pindi Hospitals to get special filter clinics
Our reporter
Rawalpindi The concerned authorities have submitted the PC-1 proposals to the Punjab Government through the Provincial Special Healthcare and Medical Education Department for the construction of modern filter clinics in the three government hospitals of the city.
It is expected that the introduction of these filter clinics will bring significant improvement in the health care system in these hospitals.
Realizing the long-standing need for such facilities, it has now been decided to set up filter clinics in three major government hospitals of the city. The aim is not only to ensure an accurate assessment of patients’ conditions before internal admission, but also to provide the necessary treatment and discharge patients directly from filter clinics, thus reducing unnecessary hospital admissions. This will help ensure timely diagnosis and treatment while reducing the burden on internal departments.
Each filter clinic will have a separate building, separate waiting area, all necessary medicines, electronic medical equipment, as well as qualified doctors and support staff.
A PC-1 worth Rs 88 million for Filter Clinic at Holy Family Hospital (HFH), Rs 41.8 million for Rawalpindi Teaching Hospital (RTH), and Rs 51.5 million for Benazir Bhutto General Hospital (BBGH), all of which have been submitted for approval.
The PC-1 proposal for all the three hospitals will be placed before the Planning and Development Wing, Punjab, where after approval, funds will be allocated and work on the projects will begin.
It is to be noted that the Emergency Departments, Out Patient Departments (OPDs), and Inpatient Wards of all the three hospitals are currently facing severe congestion due to the extraordinary influx of patients.
As a result, the healthcare system is under considerable pressure, often preventing patients from receiving timely and quality treatment depending on the nature of their illness.
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