Medicines running low in public hospitals, patients turn to pharmacies

As medication purchases for public hospitals remain riddled with allegations of corruption that benefit certain healthcare firms, the opposition, doctors and patients claim the country’s healthcare system faces crippling shortages of life-saving medications.

Defi Media cited patients as raising concerns that drugs to treat heart attacks, diabetes and hypertension are reportedly in short supply in public hospitals.

On the other hand, such blackouts are forcing patients to buy these drugs at exorbitant prices in private pharmacies, it added.

It cited as example Chlopidogrel, which is taken by cardiac patients, are sold between Rs800 and Rs1,200, while Rivaroxaban, which are used to prevent blood clots, are sold between Rs 115 even Rs 500.