Peshawar, April 22 — A sharp increase in petroleum prices is rippling through Pakistan’s economy and driving up the cost of vital medicines, leaving many patients unable to afford essential treatment.
People with chronic conditions are among the most affected. Insulin prices have nearly doubled, reportedly rising from PKR 2,200 to PKR 4,720, putting regular diabetes care out of reach for large numbers of patients. Other commonly used drugs have also seen notable increases: antacids and acidity treatments rose from PKR 530 to PKR 620, multivitamins from PKR 480 to PKR 510, and typhoid medications from PKR 805 to PKR 930. Medications for cancer and pregnancy-related needs have gone up by roughly PKR 400.
Zafar Ali, a resident of Peshawar who earns PKR 40,000 per month and relies on insulin to manage his diabetes, said the price surge has made his medicine unaffordable. Some local patients and consumer advocates accuse certain pharmacies of creating artificial shortages to exploit the price increases.
Arshad Mohmand of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Medical Drug Association warned that prices for life-saving drugs have jumped by between PKR 1,000 and PKR 4,000. He also pointed to weak regulatory compliance: many pharmacies do not display official price lists and some operate without valid licences. Mohmand urged authorities to strengthen the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan, step up inspections, and impose penalties on violators to curb profiteering and ensure medicine availability.
Chief Drug Controller Abbas Khan clarified that drug pricing is determined at the federal level under existing laws, while provincial authorities are responsible for enforcing those prices on the ground. Observers say clearer enforcement, better oversight and targeted support for vulnerable patients are needed to prevent health outcomes from worsening as costs climb.
This report is based on coverage in The Express Tribune and syndicated news feeds.
