Medicine Shortage
Outline
- Introduction – Significance of uninterrupted medicine supply for public health
- Historical & Current Context – Pakistan’s recurring medicine shortages
- Causes of Shortage
- Weak pharmaceutical regulation
- Import dependency & forex crisis
- Hoarding & black marketing
- Inefficient drug pricing policies
- Supply chain disruptions
- Consequences
- Increased mortality & morbidity
- Rise of counterfeit drugs
- Public distrust in healthcare
- Ethical & legal issues
- Global Comparison – Lessons from other developing countries
- Policy Measures Needed
- Strengthening DRAP & regulatory frameworks
- Encouraging local pharmaceutical production
- Transparent drug pricing mechanisms
- Emergency stockpiles of essential medicines
- Public-private partnerships in health sector
- Way Forward – Linking health security with national security
- Conclusion
Expanded
The availability of essential medicines is not a privilege but a fundamental right of every citizen. Yet, Pakistan is witnessing one of its most serious medicine shortages in recent years, with life-saving drugs disappearing from pharmacies and hospitals. The crisis raises troubling questions about governance, accountability, and the state’s commitment to ensuring the health of its people.
Several factors have converged to create this situation. Pakistan’s pharmaceutical industry is heavily dependent on imported raw materials, particularly from China and India. The foreign exchange crisis has compounded the problem, making imports more expensive and erratic. Regulatory weaknesses within the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) have led to delays in approvals, arbitrary pricing decisions, and poor monitoring of stock hoarding and black-market activities.
The human cost of this shortage is enormous. Patients suffering from chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, hepatitis, and cancer are unable to access affordable treatment. This not only leads to higher mortality rates but also fuels the circulation of counterfeit and substandard drugs. Moreover, public confidence in the healthcare system is eroded, and ethical dilemmas emerge as doctors are forced to prescribe substitutes that may not be equally effective.
Globally, countries facing similar crises have responded through strong state interventions, transparent drug pricing systems, and promotion of indigenous pharmaceutical production. For example, Bangladesh has emerged as a pharmaceutical exporter after investing in local capacity and restricting excessive dependence on imports. Pakistan, too, must pursue this path by incentivising local producers, ensuring timely payments for imports, and creating a transparent system of price adjustments.
Policy reforms are urgently needed. DRAP must be restructured to ensure professionalism, autonomy, and accountability. Strategic reserves of essential medicines should be maintained just like reserves of wheat and fuel. Public-private partnerships can help in expanding production capacity, while technological tools can be used to track supply chains and prevent hoarding.
The shortage of medicines is not merely a health issue—it is a question of human security. Unless Pakistan recognises that healthcare is central to its social contract, such crises will recur with greater severity. Ensuring uninterrupted supply of medicines must, therefore, be treated as a national priority.
Vocabulary Table
| Word | Meaning | Urdu | Synonyms | Antonyms | Usage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shortage | Lack of something needed | کمی | scarcity, deficit, insufficiency | surplus, abundance | Pakistan faces a severe shortage of essential medicines. |
| Morbidity | Rate of disease in a population | بیماری کی شرح | illness, sickness | health, wellness | The shortage has increased morbidity in rural areas. |
| Counterfeit | Fake or false | جعلی | bogus, forged, spurious | genuine, authentic | Counterfeit drugs are a serious risk during shortages. |
| Hoarding | Collecting and storing excessively | ذخیرہ اندوزی | stockpiling, accumulation | distribution, release | Hoarding of medicines worsened the crisis. |
| Regulatory | Related to rules or control | ضابطہ جاتی | supervisory, administrative | unregulated, uncontrolled | Strong regulatory frameworks are vital for healthcare. |
| Erode | To weaken or destroy gradually | کھوکھلا کرنا | undermine, weaken | strengthen, fortify | Public trust in healthcare has eroded due to shortages. |
Facts & Figures
- According to the WHO, 50% of Pakistanis lack regular access to essential medicines.
- Pakistan imports 90% of raw material (Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients) for drug production.
- In 2024, over 200 essential medicines were reported out of stock in major hospitals.
- Bangladesh now produces 98% of its required medicines locally and exports to 150+ countries.
Important CSS Questions
- Critically analyse the causes and consequences of Pakistan’s recurring medicine shortages.
- How does the shortage of essential drugs undermine Pakistan’s healthcare system and national security?
- Compare Pakistan’s pharmaceutical industry with Bangladesh and suggest lessons.
- What policy reforms are required to address medicine shortages sustainably?