The government of Pakistan has approved a rise of up to 20% in retail prices of commonly used medicines and 14% for lifesaving and highly essential drugs, vital for the survival of critical patients. The Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Association (PPMA) criticized the increase and termed it much lower than had been expected by the cartel.
The importers and drug manufacturers had been pressing the government for an across-the-board 39% rise for all kinds of medicines and there had been months-long discussions and deadlock between the government and the drug cartel regarding the issue. The Finance Ministry informed the PPMA that medicine prices could be reviewed again after three months if the Pakistani rupee appreciated, however, no further increase would be made under this category in the next financial year.
The people of Pakistan were struck into persistent hapless and misery over the past years, as the continuous waves of inflation had pushed the nation into extreme poverty and a state of helplessness. The headline inflation touched a historic high of 36.5% in April while all sectors of the national economy including energy, transport, food, health, hospitality, housing, recreation, and others witnessed a sharp uptick in the past two months. Apparently, the government of Pakistan itself pushed the public into extreme inflation through a series of economic measures that it undertook in accordance with the IMF’s directives to grasp the staff-level agreement with the global lender.
Although, the people of the country could not benefit from the dividends of the IMF’s proposed bailout package but used to suffer from the acute repercussions of the so-called reforms taken by the government in this regard. According to the reports, the unprecedented inflation had pushed over 18 million Pakistanis below the poverty line while a big chunk of the country’s population was compelled to reduce their meal, shortcut their essential needs in terms of healthcare, clothing, children’s education, travel, and socialities.
As for as the health sector is concerned the coalition government not only sabotaged the PTI’s Sehat Card Plus scheme but did not introduce its previously launched health insurance plan as an alternative to the PTI’s legacy. Currently, the poor who used to get free-of-cost blood dialysis, heart surgery, radiotherapies, and other major treatment through Health cards are mourning the coalition government for snatching free treatment and squeezing life for them. As the rising inflation had already become unbearable for the poor masses, the incumbent rulers had allowed a 20% increase in prices of generic medicines, slapped Rs. 500 on a monthly basis to sui gas customers in the head of meter rent, and thousands charged from each household under lame pretexts in recent months. Meanwhile, indirect taxation, slab-based consumer rates, no accountability of government institutions, and no check over service providers had brought a cascade of inflation in the country.
Unfortunately, unrestricted price hikes seriously affect all aspects of public life from agriculture to industry and education to Public health besides massively contributing to unemployment and poverty. The coalition government has struck a peculiar situation, as the next year’s budget is overhead but the sitting rulers could not extend any relief to the masses to consolidate their position in the upcoming general elections because IMF’s deal is still not in sight despite funding from friendly nations.
Presently, the Pakistani government has shaped into a vampire that is blatantly siphoning public blood and making their lives miserable. Although, the country is passing through a crucial period of history, but the government has put the entire burden on the public. The incumbent rulers must adopt a pro-publica doctrine by sharing the public burden, introducing more strict economic discipline, lowering government expenses, and placing a check over public and private institutions. So, the nation endures this hard time with courage, hope, and unity.
