The acute shortage of Panadol has hit a number of other cities after Lahore and the situation is getting from bad to worse due to the months-long shortage of most widely used pain relief drug amid resurgence of dengue, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Friday.

The hardships of Karachiites intensified as widely used Panadol is not available in the markets even at double price. Sindh is one of the worst flood-hit provinces where stagnant water has increased the risk of water-borne and vector-borne diseases. The outbreak of dengue is getting worse with each passing day. 

The medicine is sold under the generic name Paracetamol to relieve pain and control fever. The outbreak of dengue fever in Karachi has increased the demand for Panadol but due to an acute shortage of the drug in the market, patients are unable to buy it. Same is the situation in Islamabad.

On the other hand, the situation in Lahore is also alarming all the medical stores near in Lahore are out of Panadol. Upon asking reason, medical store owners said that they were not getting enough supply from the manufacturing companies.

According to the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan, the relevant brand has stopped its pharmaceutical business in Pakistan. The makers claim issues with the cost-effective nature of the drug to be the main reason behind its halted production. The company was also urging the local authorities to increase the drug price but their demands were not catered to.

The companies produced self-imposed shortages in order to raise the price of Panadol, claimed sources. 

However, sources claimed that matters have been settled between the pharmaceutical companies and the government and they are eye to eye and concerned regarding the shortage of drug. 

Federal Minister for Health Abdul Qadir Patel chaired a meeting in Islamabad on Friday on the availability of Panadol and Paracetamol while Pharma companies, manufacturers, suppliers and officials were present in the meeting.

As per Chairman of Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association Mansoor Dilawar, there has been a shortage of life-saving medicines due to the unusual buying and selling of medicines for flood victims but the government has assured to solve the issue of the price of fever medicine. The production of fever pills and syrup has been completely stopped due to the shortage. Companies are assured of a 10% reduction in the cost of paracetamol raw material.