By Sardar Khan Niazi

To be fair, the issue is not entirely the result of state negligence. Pharmaceutical manufacturers have faced genuine cost pressures for years. Pakistan relies heavily on imported active pharmaceutical ingredients and raw materials, while fuel, electricity and transport costs have surged repeatedly amid inflationary instability. Drugmakers argue that maintaining old price levels under such conditions is commercially impossible. There is merit to this argument, particularly in a country where margins on many essential medicines are tightly controlled. But acknowledging these realities does not absolve the state of responsibility. The government’s greatest failure has been its inability to manage public confidence. While only certain medicines have experienced substantial hikes, the public perception is that prices are spiraling across the board. In matters involving healthcare, perception itself carries consequences. Fear of future increases encourages panic buying and hoarding, which in turn worsens shortages and inflates prices further. For millions of families, buying medicine is no longer a routine expense — it has become a monthly financial emergency. Across Pakistan, prices of essential medicines continue to rise at a pace that ordinary citizens simply cannot keep up with. From blood pressure tablets to insulin and antibiotics, patients are increasingly forced to choose between treatment and household necessities. The crisis is particularly severe for low- and middle-income families. Inflation has already raised the cost of food, electricity and transport. When medicine prices rise repeatedly on top of that, the burden becomes unbearable. A retired pensioner managing diabetes, a laborer buying heart medication for a parent, or parents trying to afford antibiotics for a sick child all face the same painful reality: healthcare is becoming unaffordable. Pharmacies frequently report shortages of lower-cost medicines after manufacturers suspend production, claiming that rising import costs and currency depreciation make certain drugs unprofitable. While pharmaceutical companies argue that higher prices are necessary to sustain manufacturing, the public sees only one outcome — essential treatment slipping out of reach. The problem is not merely economic; it is deeply social. When medicines become too expensive, patients delay treatment, skip doses or abandon prescriptions entirely. Doctors warn that such practices can worsen illnesses and increase long-term healthcare costs. In diseases like tuberculosis, diabetes and hypertension, irregular treatment can lead to dangerous complications and even death. Regulators cannot remain passive observers. The government must strengthen oversight of drug pricing and ensure that essential medicines remain available at affordable rates. Any increase in prices should be transparent, justified and carefully monitored. At the same time, authorities must improve support for local pharmaceutical production to reduce dependence on imported raw materials vulnerable to currency fluctuations. There is also an urgent need to expand public healthcare programs. State-run hospitals often face medicine shortages, forcing patients to buy expensive alternatives from private pharmacies. A stronger public distribution system could provide relief to vulnerable communities and reduce exploitation in the market. The healthcare sector cannot be governed solely by commercial logic. Medicines are not luxury goods; they are necessities tied directly to human survival and dignity. A society where treatment becomes a privilege for the wealthy risks deepening inequality and public suffering. Pakistan’s rising medicine prices are more than a temporary economic challenge. They are a warning sign of a healthcare system under strain. Unless decisive action is taken, the cost will not only be measured in rupees, but in worsening illness, preventable deaths and the erosion of public trust.