PESHAWAR: Official documents reveal that hospitals in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) are currently facing a severe shortage of vital medicines, posing significant concerns for patient well-being. The crisis encompasses a lack of essential items such as immunoglobulins, anti-rabies vaccines, and emergency drugs.
According to the Directorate General of Health Services in Peshawar, the absence of a snakebite vaccine is a critical threat to lives, exacerbated by financial difficulties hindering the procurement of crucial medicines. Documents indicate an urgent need for Rs 9 billion to address the medicine shortage, with outstanding arrears of Rs 2.67 billion for previous medication purchases. Additionally, Rs 6 billion in pending funds further compounds the situation.
Despite a budget allocation of Rs 99.77 million in both 2022 and 2023 by the Finance Department, concerns persist that this amount is insufficient to alleviate the pressing medicine shortage. Hum News has sought clarification from health authorities on the ongoing crisis.
KP Governor Ghulam Ali has addressed the matter in a letter to Caretaker Chief Minister Arshad Hussain Shah, highlighting the dire consequences faced by impoverished individuals due to the lack of funds in hospitals. The letter emphasizes the urgency of issuing orders to the Finance Department and Health Department officials for the prompt release of funds to hospitals.
The Governor’s letter underscores the immediate need to release funds to ensure the timely supply of medicines and essential goods to hospitals. The public is growing increasingly anxious due to the scarcity of medicines, with patients struggling to access necessary treatments.
In response to the escalating crisis, Governor Ghulam Ali expresses hope that immediate steps will be taken to allocate the urgently needed Rs 9 billion, providing a lifeline to hospitals and alleviating the medicine shortage threatening the well-being of the region’s residents.
