Quetta: Medicine shortages have begun to surface across Balochistan as a nationwide strike by goods transporters enters its tenth day, disrupting supplies from Karachi and leaving pharmacies in Quetta and other towns struggling to meet routine demand.
Patients in Quetta say commonly used medicines for diabetes, blood pressure and other chronic conditions are increasingly hard to find, as around 80 percent of medicines used in Balochistan are supplied from Karachi. Traders say transport vehicles have remained off the roads since the strike began, preventing medicines from reaching the province.
Pharmaceutical manufacturers and drug retailers warn that medicines produced in major industrial hubs such as Karachi and Lahore are not reaching pharmacies, medical stores and healthcare facilities across the country. While shortages are being reported in several regions, Balochistan has emerged as the worst affected due to its heavy reliance on supplies from Karachi.
Former chairman of the Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association Tauqeer ul Haq said the impact of the strike was now being felt directly by patients, particularly those dependent on daily medication.
He said supplies of medicines used for diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and mental health conditions were being affected, at a time when a seasonal flu outbreak had already increased demand.
Tauqeer maintained that pharmaceutical exports to countries including Sri Lanka and several African markets had also come to a halt as port operations in Karachi were severely disrupted. Inside the country, many manufacturers had slowed or temporarily stopped production as warehouses filled up and raw materials failed to reach factories.
Chairman of the Pakistan Chemists and Druggists Association Abdul Samad Budhani said medicines were available in company warehouses but could not be transported due to the strike, resulting in growing complaints from patients across the country. He urged federal and provincial governments to intervene and ensure uninterrupted supply of essential medicines.
In Balochistan, Medicines Traders Association president Malik Roohullah Kakar said traders were struggling to meet even routine needs, forcing patients to travel longer distances or switch medicines. He warned that continued disruption could have serious consequences for patients who cannot afford interruptions in treatment.
Transporters say the strike was called over rising fuel costs, new taxes and operational issues, and have demanded relief measures and policy assurances. While the prime minister has taken notice of the situation and formed a committee, health sector representatives warn that delays in resolving the issue could turn an economic disruption into a full blown health crisis.
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