KARACHI: The recent shortage of life-saving drugs like paracetamol (panadol) has made Pakistani patients’ pain more severe. It is an important medicine in dengue treatment which has gripped the whole country.

“The simple reason is the cost of production is higher than the regulated selling price,” Tauqeerul Haq, the former chairman of Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (PPMA), told Aaj News following a query regarding the shortage of panadol.

Tauqeer was speaking to Sidra Iqbal, the host of the channel’s morning show Aaj Pakistan, on the shortage of lifesaving drugs in Pakistan. The production of panadol, one of the popular brands of paracetamol, is at the bare minimum level, according to media reports.

However, Health Minister Abdul Qadir Patel has denied reports of shortage of medicines. Paracetamol was available in the market in sufficient quantity in “fifty different brands,” he said in a press conference on Monday, adding that its sufficient production and other medicines were being ensured in the country.

He also urged other pharmaceutical companies to start production of paracetamol as the government was ready to register them.

The former PPMA chairman told Aaj News that the government regulated the price. “The price of one tablet is Rs1.70 whereas its production cost has soared to Rs2.31 due to inflation, dollar rate and increased energy price.”

He added that panadol manufacturers were constantly making the product at a loss, leading to minimum production. “This is a hardship case [pertaining to price adjustment] and pharmaceutical companies apply for a hardship case in such situations in Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP).” Around 35 medicines are also under consideration.

DRAP after reviewing all the facts decided that the cost of a single tablet of paracetamol should be Rs2.66. Such a suggestion is pending in the cabinet for the last four to five months.

Amid this, counterfeit products have started to appear in the market due to low production of the medicine. Moreover, genuine medicine was being sold at more than twice the approved price.

“The cabinet should immediately approve its price so that it comes in the production,” Tauqeer said, adding it would also encourage other manufacturers. The leading brand of paracetamol produces 450 million tablets per month. The medication is one of the highest-selling brands in dengue and fever cases.

The PPMA’s former head was hopeful of headway in talks with the government, stressing that any further delay would lead to a big crisis.

He claimed that the association was making all-out efforts to make the product despite suffering a loss.

Tauqeer feared that a shortage of medicines would prompt the availability of smuggled or counterfeit pills or become unavailable.

“The government should give the decision on the basis of merit to avert the impending crisis,” he said.