Patients in Pakistan are struggling to get the treatment they need for heart diseases due to a shortage of the important Heparin injection used to thin blood. This injection is necessary for the treatment of heart patients, but it is in short supply in both government and private hospitals. The injection costs 600 rupees, but it is being sold for 3000 rupees on the black market, causing problems for poor patients. Hospitals believe that there is a false shortage.
Pakistan is facing an economic crisis that has affected its healthcare system. The country is struggling to import essential medicines and active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) due to a lack of foreign exchange reserves. This has led to a shortage of other essential medicines such as anaesthetics, Insulin, Panadol, Brufen, Disprin, Calpol, Tegral, Nimesulide, Hepamerz, Buscopan and Rivotril. Local pharmaceutical manufacturers have had to cut back production, leading to further shortages. Doctors have been forced to delay surgeries due to the lack of drugs and medical equipment.
Pakistan’s medicine manufacturing is heavily dependent on imports, with almost 95% of drugs requiring raw materials from other countries such as India and China. The country’s ongoing economic crisis has made it difficult to import these materials. The IMF has failed to reach a staff-level agreement on a much-needed $1.1 billion bailout package that would help prevent Pakistan from going bankrupt. The IMF has put forward tough conditions during talks held in February and refused to approve a staff-level agreement to release funds.
In conclusion, patients in Pakistan are facing difficulties in getting the treatment they need due to a shortage of essential medicines and medical equipment. The country’s healthcare system is struggling due to its ongoing economic crisis, which has affected its ability to import necessary materials. The IMF has failed to provide the much-needed bailout package to help Pakistan address these issues.