ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers’ Association (PPMA) has assured that essential and life-saving medicines remain available across the country. The association rejected the perception of a large-scale shortage and reaffirmed the industry’s commitment to uninterrupted patient care.
In a statement issued to the media, PPMA Chairman Tauqeer Ul Haq said the overall medicine supply chain is stable, following government interventions on price fixation for essential drugs and the deregulation of non-essential categories.
“These steps have immediately improved the supply of affected medicines and helped ensure continuity of treatment for patients,” he noted. He acknowledged that while some multinational companies have exited Pakistan due to commercial reasons, local manufacturers, operating under international quality standards, are providing reliable alternatives. “Patients are not without options. Pakistani manufacturers are producing therapies that are both accessible and effective,” he said.
Highlighting availability, the PPMA Chairman stated that insulin, heparin, and cardiometabolic brands are present in the market. He added that critical therapies, including anti-cancer drugs and temperature-sensitive products, are being supplied through hospitals and licensed pharmacies. Referring to a list of 80 reportedly unavailable medicines, PPMA clarified that only a few, including Chloro-butanol and Emedastine Difumarate, are currently missing from shelves. However, alternatives are available. Certain drugs, such as Sodium Amidotrizoate, may have intermittent availability, but suitable substitutes exist. Regarding insulin, he said that only one specific brand is unavailable, while several others remain widely accessible.
On the issue of vaccines, the association acknowledged that this is an area requiring long-term focus. PPMA is working closely with the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) and other stakeholders to build domestic production capacity. “This is a global challenge, not unique to Pakistan,” Tauqeer Ul Haq remarked. “However, steps are being taken to strengthen the future supply.”