A persistent shortage of medicines and surgical items in government teaching hospitals is severely affecting patient care, forcing many patients to purchase essential supplies from the open market at inflated prices, 24NewsHD TV reported on Friday.
Hospital sources said public-sector teaching hospitals across Punjab are grappling with chronic shortages of essential, life-saving medicines, including insulin, cardiac drugs and cancer treatments, along with critical surgical supplies such as needles, cannulas and anesthesia.
Insulin 70/30, a vital medicine for diabetic patients, is currently unavailable in several government teaching hospitals, underscoring what medical professionals describe as a long-standing supply crisis rather than a temporary disruption.
In addition to insulin, shortages of other critical medicines have left patients with no option but to buy drugs out of pocket, increasing the financial strain on families already struggling with rising healthcare costs.
The crisis has also spread to surgical disposables, with hospitals reporting insufficient stocks of basic items required for routine and emergency procedures. Doctors said the lack of supplies has led to delays in treatment and added hardship for admitted patients.
Despite repeated alerts and formal complaints, the Punjab Specialised Healthcare Department has so far failed to resolve the shortages, according to hospital officials.
Doctors warned that the continued unavailability of medicines and surgical materials in government teaching hospitals is undermining the delivery of medical care and could have serious consequences for patient outcomes if urgent corrective measures are not taken.