By Sardar Khan Niazi
A country where millions struggle day-to-day to meet basic needs, the going up price tag of medicine is more than an inconvenience–it is a crisis. The right to health is enshrined in international human rights agreements and recognized by Pakistan’s Constitution under Article 38, which mandates the state to provide basic necessities, including medical relief. Yet, for countless citizens, right to use to within one’s means medication remains a distant dream. In today’s Pakistan, it is not exceptional to find families choosing between food and life-saving treatment. This is not just an economic failure–it is a moral one. In recent years, the prices of essential medicines in Pakistan have surged dramatically. Even common medications for diabetes, hypertension, asthma, and infections have become too expensive for the average household. The middle class feels the pinch, but it is the working poor and citizens of advanced years, who suffer the most. For someone being paid least possible wage, even a simple antibiotic course can dispose of a week’s income. For chronic patients, the burden is lifelong. The reasons behind too expensive medicines are multi-layered. Weak regulatory oversight allows pharmaceutical companies to hike prices with little justification. The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP), in the face of its mandate, every so often give the impression of being reactive rather than taking the initiative. Price increases are frequently approved without a clear as crystal mechanism that considers patients’ economic realities. Moreover, the lack of local production of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) means we rely heavily on imports, making prices vulnerable to exchange rate fluctuations. In recent months, the rupee’s depreciation has further driven up costs, making essential drugs unattainable for many. Then there’s the issue of hoarding and artificial shortages. Whenever there is talk of a price increase or changes in import duties, critical medicines mysteriously disappear from the shelves. Black marketing thrives in such conditions, creating a parallel market where prices are exponentially higher. These systemic failures hit the most vulnerable the hardest–those with no voice, no connections, and no recourse. The question we must ask is simple: Should medicine be a commodity dictated by market forces, or a public good protected by policy? If we agree that health is a fundamental right, then the answer is clear. Medicine must be made accessible and affordable to all, irrespective of socio-economic status. This requires more than lip service. There are practical solutions that can be implemented–if there is political will. Price control mechanisms must be overhauled and made transparent. The government should incentivize local production of essential drugs and raw materials to reduce dependence on imports. Procurement of medicines at the federal and provincial levels must be streamlined to cut wastage and ensure availability in public hospitals. Furthermore, public healthcare facilities must be strengthened to reduce the out-of-pocket expenses for patients. Most importantly, there must be a cultural shift within policymaking circles–from viewing healthcare as a sector for profit to seeing it as a cornerstone of social justice. Affordability is not just about economics; it’s about dignity. When a father cannot afford insulin for his diabetic child or an elderly woman skips her hypertension medicine because her pension barely covers food, we have failed as a society. The state must recognize that affordable medicine is not a luxury–it is a basic right. It is time to treat health as a human right, not a privilege for the wealthy. Let us build a Pakistan where no one has to choose between survival and sustenance, between medicine and meals. Let affordable healthcare be the promise we keep–not just in speeches, but also in the lives of the people.
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