There is a severe shortage of essential medicines, including those for blood pressure control, which has led to their illegal sale at exorbitant prices in the black market. This scarcity is causing significant problems for patients and citizens.
Despite the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) launching a crackdown last month to address the artificial shortage of life-saving medicines, the illegal sale of essential medicines has continued.
Simultaneously, health authorities have initiated the registration process for new life-saving drugs and are making efforts to bring other vital medicines back to the pharmacies.