Scarcity of pain medication in Pakistan following the devaluation of currency

Madam, The scarcity of drugs harms patient safety and care.1 Media publications on the shortage painkillers tend to generate panic anxiety among public owing their role in analgesia recovery. Pain, especially when untreated, has far-reaching consequences for patients' quality life, including psychological, physical, social, economic consequences. Untreated pain proven be associated with depression, mood fluctuations, emotional instability, resulting an overall low life. medicines is common globally, causes are multifaceted depending upon region consideration. Currently, Pakistan a similar crisis where decreased availability medications, which analgesics constitute vast proportion, leaving many holes quality, management care protocols2-3 reasons current multifactorial. However, major chunk it lies devaluation currency skyrocketing prices petroleum, caused inflation all utilities, medicine. Reports by media outlets have shown 80% increase compared five years prior. In contrast, Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (PPMA) chairman claimed only 21–30% price increase. gravity situation can further augmented fact that cost paracetamol was increased from Rs 600/kg 2600/kg earlier this year, yet medicine remains unavailable market.4 medication not limited pharmacies but also found its way hospitals, healthcare providers either prioritize patients comes giving or there no available smaller setups.5 Another factor contributing predicament climate change-induced floods country. There demand medicines, painkillers, flood-stricken areas decline production due non-availability raw products doubled aftermath calamity. It utmost urgency mitigate crisis, as most commonly used over-the-counter whole tier care. To get bottom problem needs more research, analysis, investigation executed at national level how streamline production, distribution sale medicine, alternative sources treatment if possible placement subsidies so barrier consumer reduced.