Authorities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) have approved sharp price increases for several essential medicines, including insulin, affecting patients at pharmacies.
The price of an insulin injection device has more than doubled, rising from Rs2,200 to Rs4,720, making it significantly harder for diabetic patients to access regular treatment.
Relevant authorities approved the revised prices, which have already been implemented at pharmacies throughout Peshawar, according to sources familiar with the matter.
| Medicine | Previous price | New price |
|---|---|---|
| Insulin injection device | Rs 2,200 | Rs 4,720 |
| Thyroid medication | Rs 85 | Rs 290 |
| Vitamin B deficiency drug | Rs 500 | Rs 600 |
| Typhoid treatment | Rs 805 | Rs 930 |
| Indigestion & acidity medicine | Rs 530 | Rs 620 |
| Vitamins & nutritional supplements | Rs 480 | Rs 510 |
Thyroid patients face one of the steepest proportional increases, with the price of their prescribed drug rising from Rs85 to Rs290, more than tripling in cost.
The cost of medicine used to treat vitamin B deficiency has increased from Rs500 to Rs600, while typhoid treatment prices have risen from Rs805 to Rs930.
Medicines for indigestion and acidity now cost Rs620, up from Rs530, and vitamins and nutritional supplements have increased from Rs480 to Rs510.
Prices of several other life-saving medicines have also been raised, though specific details on those drugs were not immediately available from official sources.
Patients and pharmacists have both raised concerns about the increases, with particular alarm directed at the doubled cost of insulin for diabetic patients.
Doctors have warned that rising medicine prices could reduce treatment adherence among patients, increasing the risk of serious complications and hospitalisations.
Health experts have called on the government to review the recent price adjustments and introduce relief measures for patients who depend on essential medicines.
