Rising medicine costs in Lahore, Karachi and Peshawar are driving patients into a worsening crisis, as ineffective price regulation, global supply disruptions and policy shortcomings continue to put essential treatments beyond reach.
The problem has intensified amid regional tensions linked to the United States and Israel’s conflict with Iran, which has disrupted supply chains, raised shipping costs and increased prices of imported raw materials used by Pakistan’s pharmaceutical industry.
Across major cities, drug prices have climbed sharply since 2023. Costs surged by nearly 50 per cent in 2024 and rose by another 30 to 40 per cent in 2025, while the imposition of an 18 per cent general sales tax has further burdened consumers.
In Lahore, patients report that even basic medicines have become unaffordable despite pharmacies offering discounts of up to 15 per cent. Muhammad Amir, a diabetes patient, said his monthly expenses have risen from about Rs5,000 to nearly Rs10,000. “If prices keep increasing, continuing treatment will become impossible,” he said.
Pharmacist and pricing expert Noor Mehr said deregulation has weakened oversight. “After decontrol policies, companies are largely setting their own prices, which explains the frequent hikes,” he said, adding that without strict monitoring, patients remain unprotected.
In Karachi, the situation appears more unstable, with wholesalers reporting price changes every 15 to 20 days and, at times, multiple increases within a single month. A government employee, Javed, said his blood pressure and cholesterol medicines now exceed Rs2,000 per month, almost double what he paid two years ago.
Another patient, Ghulam Rasool, who suffers from heart disease and diabetes, said insulin has become both costly and scarce. “Skipping doses is risky, but financial constraints leave me with no option,” he said, urging authorities to ensure affordable access to essential medicines.
Chairman of the Pakistan Chemist and Drug Association Abdul Samad Budhani said non-essential drug prices continue to rise unchecked due to existing policy frameworks. “When the government delays decisions on essential drug pricing, importers cut supply, leading to shortages, especially of critical medicines like insulin,” he said.
In Peshawar, similar concerns are emerging as patients and pharmacists report shortages of key medicines alongside rising prices, particularly for antibiotics, insulin and pregnancy-related drugs. Healthcare workers say weak oversight allows pharmaceutical companies to charge arbitrary prices.
Dr Adnan Rizvi, President of the Pakistan Pharmacists Association Sindh, warned that irrational prescribing and self-medication are compounding the crisis. “Doctors often prescribe unnecessary multivitamins, while patients frequently buy medicines without prescriptions. If this trend continues, treatment options will shrink, as no major new antibiotics are expected by 2030,” he said.
Industry representatives attribute the rising costs to several factors, including currency depreciation, higher import expenses and reliance on raw materials from India and China, which supply most pharmaceutical inputs.
Mian Mahmood, who owns a chain of medical stores in Lahore, said global conditions are a major factor. “If geopolitical tensions intensify, supply disruptions could worsen, leading to further shortages and price increases,” he said, calling for government action to stabilise the market.
Meanwhile, public hospitals in all three cities continue to face medicine shortages, forcing patients to buy remaining prescriptions from private pharmacies at much higher prices.
Jawad Ameen, Chair of the NAFA Group, highlighted the importance of promoting generic medicines. “More than 80 per cent of medicines used globally are generics, which are 70 to 90 per cent cheaper and equally effective,” he said, noting that affordability improves adherence to treatment and health outcomes.
However, despite assurances that locally produced generics meet international standards, many patients and doctors in Pakistan still prefer branded medicines, limiting the potential benefits of cheaper alternatives.
Wholesale dealers report that prices of several medicines have increased by 50 to 75 per cent over the past two years, with some seeing repeated hikes within weeks, while effective monitoring remains largely absent.
Experts warn that without urgent reforms including stricter price controls, better supply chain oversight and increased public awareness, the crisis is likely to worsen further.
