To be fair, the issue is not entirely the result of state negligence. Pharmaceutical manufacturers have faced genuine cost pressures for years. Pakistan relies heavily on imported active pharmaceutical ingredients and raw materials, while fuel, electricity and transport costs have surged repeatedly amid inflationary instability. Drugmakers argue that maintaining old price levels under such conditions is commercially impossible. There is merit to this argument, particularly in a country where margins on many essential medicines are tightly controlled. But acknowledging these realities does not absolve the state of responsibility. The government’s greatest failure has been its inability to manage public confidence. While only certain medicines have experienced substantial hikes, the public perception is that prices are spiraling across the board. In matters involving healthcare, perception itself carries consequences. Fear of future increases encourages panic buying and hoarding, which in turn worsens shortages and inflates prices further. For millions of families, buying medicine is no longer a routine expense — it has become a monthly financial emergency. Across Pakistan, prices of essential medicines continue to rise at a pace that ordinary citizens simply cannot keep up with. From blood pressure tablets to insulin and antibiotics, patients are increasingly forced to choose between treatment and household necessities. The crisis is particularly severe for low- and middle-income families. Inflation has already raised the cost of food, electricity and transport. When medicine prices rise repeatedly on top of that, the burden becomes unbearable. A retired pensioner managing diabetes, a laborer buying heart medication for a parent, or parents trying to afford antibiotics for a sick child all face the same painful reality: healthcare is becoming unaffordable. Pharmacies frequently report shortages of lower-cost medicines after manufacturers suspend........

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