For the past few days, a subtle increase in the price of medicinal drugs has been noticed. This creates a lot of problem for the masses. Often times there are multiple members in a family who suffer from diseases like blood pressure, diabetes, gastric and other such ailments. As a result, doctors prescribe medicines to treat these problems. However, when the prices of these daily needed medicines hike-up the lower middle class and economically insolvent families have to suffer.
A report published in this daily points out that the price of different life saving medicines are increasing at an alarming rate. This is causing the lower income groups to veer away from essential medicines. Experts opine that this is primarily due to the price of dollar which is increasing and keeps on fluctuating on a daily basis. Dollars are necessary to bring raw materials for making the medicines in the country. When one proponent of a chain is affected the ripple passes through the entire chain.
The price hike will
affect the life of the lower
income groups
The price hike will affect the livelihood of the lower income groups. Even though the NBR has granted VAT exemption on the raw material import for active pharmaceutical ingredients and reagents for six years till 2025 this is not faltering the price hike. This is causing people who are suffering from various diseases, including deadly ailments; fail to recover from diseases for want of medicines.
So far it is seen that the government has taken no initiative to check the problem. But, if left unmonitored, the pharmaceutical companies will surely hike prices further and thus create a massive problem for the medicine consumers of the lower income stratum. The authorities concerned should thus take note of this matter and bring quick and appropriate solutions to the problem benefitting both parties.
