Shaheer Ahmed
Panadol is a tablet primarily used to relieve fever and pains like headache, migraine, muscle ache, dysmenorrhea, and sore throat. In Pakistan GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) produces it. It is available at a nominal price. Pakistan is facing a severe shortage of Panadol due to the price increase proposed by GSK which the government has refused. The question is as dengue cases are on the high rise, how to handle the Panadol shortage?
GSK produces around 450 million Panadol tablets each year. They have proposed the price per tablet as Rs. 2.47, but the government reduced it to Rs. 1.35. The company said that it is not cost-effective for them.
This tablet is manufactured by GSK Company which is the oldest pharmaceutical company in Pakistan. According to them, they produce around 450 million Panadol tablets each year. Recently they send the summary to increase the price of tablets to RS. 2.47 Per tablet because of an increase in cost and demand. But the government refused the petition and reduce the rate by RS. 1.35 Per tablet. After the decision, the company did not find it cost-effective and stopped its production.
The government authorities also raided the GSK’s warehouses incases the medicine is hoarded intentionally to cause a shortage. Farhan Muhammad Haroon, Chief Executive Officer of GSK said, “We firmly reject the claims related to the hoarding of Panadol intentionally to create a shortage. The stocks at the warehouse were intended to be released and distributed in the country in the normal course of business. As GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare Pakistan Limited (member of the Haleon Group), we are led by our purpose of delivering everyday health with humanity.”
He also added, “We continue to supply Panadol products in the country and have adjusted our production capacity to ensure some product availability, despite market obstacles.”
In another news, the authorities raided Altaf Traders warehouse in Karachi Kachi Gali Medicine Market, where the medicine was hoarded to cause an artificial shortage. The medicine was taken in custody.
Punjab Govt. To Launch Online Academy To Counter Tuition Centres
Federal Health Minister Abdul Qadir Patel had warned that those causing an artificial shortage of medicine will be dealt with severely. No one will be allowed to benefit from the situation and the culprits will be dealt with will be punished.
In case Panadol is not available, the following alternate tablets can be taken:
