BANNU: The skyrocketing prices of medicines have restricted the access of the common people to medical facilities, experts said on Sunday.
Taking to reporters at the inauguration of a free medical camp, All Pakistan Chemists Association (APCA) Bannu chapter Chairman Muhammad Alam Khan, Himmat Welfare Organization Chairman Dr Abdul Rauf Qureshi, Dr Umar Orakzai, Jamal Qamar, and Dr Naima Abuzar emphasized that it was the responsibility of the government to ensure affordable healthcare to the people.
They lamented that the excessive taxation on medicines had put healthcare out of reach for many, noting that neighbouring countries had significantly lower prices of medicines. The experts demanded the government to exempt medicines from taxes to provide relief to the people. They said the free medical camp was held with the view to provide healthcare access to the underprivileged.
The camp offered free ultrasound, lab tests, and medical consultations, with medicines being provided free of charge courtesy to donations from pharmaceutical companies. The organizers vowed to hold such camps every two to three months to cater to the healthcare needs of the marginalized population.
