Islamabad: (RightNow) Pakistan faces a severe shortage of over 100 life-saving medicines. This has made treatment difficult for patients with cancer, blood pressure, and diabetes.

According to the pharmaceutical industry, the production of these medicines has halted due to increased manufacturing costs. Requests for price hikes are not being approved by the government.

Former Chairman of the Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Association, Tauqeer-ul-Haq, stated that government negligence is increasing hardship cases.

Due to the unavailability of medicines at reasonable prices, patients are forced to buy counterfeit and smuggled drugs. This situation poses a threat to the healthcare system.

It is noteworthy that DRAP’s recommendations are approved through the cabinet, which takes time. There is now talk of transferring this authority to DRAP.