The current shortage of medicine brands in Pakistan has reached a critical juncture. As of late August 2025, 80 essential medicine brands are missing from the market, placing patients at significant risk and increasing pressure on an already strained healthcare system.
Economic pressures behind the shortages
Manufacturers are operating under tight or negative profit margins due to rising production costs—driven by inflation, currency devaluation, and escalating utility tariffs. Fixed pricing policies have prevented market adjustments, leading many essential drugs to become unviable to produce.
Regulatory constraints worsening access
With more than 460 essential medicines under strict government price control, limited pricing flexibility has hindered manufacturers’ ability to adapt. This rigidity, coupled with delayed reforms and resistance to policy updates, has driven brands off the shelves.
Supply chain challenges and limited imports
Global supply disruptions have further aggravated availability challenges. While the regulatory body attributes some shortages to supply chain gaps, evidence suggests that the root causes are domestic economic constraints and a shrinking pharmaceutical landscape.
Broader impact on patients and healthcare integrity
The disappearance of vital medicine brands is especially dangerous for patients managing chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, epilepsy, and cancer. With shortages deepening, there is a heightened risk of reliance on counterfeit or expired alternatives, compounding health hazards.
Urgent need for pragmatic reform
To reverse this crisis, flexible regulatory measures and dynamic pricing models must be introduced. Reforms should align manufacturing viability with public health priorities—empowering manufacturers to produce essential medicines sustainably while ensuring that patients have continuous access to life-saving treatments.
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