COVID-19: ‘Breakthrough’ drug dexamethasone running short in Pakistan markets

Islamabad: Dexamethasone is no longer low-priced, nor widely available at pharmacies in Pakistan after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the medicine on Thursday as the ‘first life-saving drug for critically ill coronavirus patients.’

The federal and the provincial governments’ health departments on Friday instructed their drug inspectors across the country to make sure the drug is available at the medical stores and pharmacies at the same rates as approved by the drug regulatory authority.

According to a notification issued by the District Health Officer of Islamabad, Dr. Zaeem Zia, the department has taken notice of shortages of the drug.

“All the pharmacies shall ensure the uninterrupted supply and availability of the drug at the price fixed by Drug Regulatory Authority (DRAP)” thus directed the DHO adding, “the drug shall be sold to the customers with valid prescription of Registered Medical Practitioner (RMP).”

Dr. Zia, however, in a tweet made it clear that Dexamethasone does not cure COVID19.

“It does not prevent Covid. It does not even help you if you have mild/no symptoms - it could even weaken your immune system early on. It only works for severe COVID patients hospitalized on oxygen or ventilators. That is all!” he said.

Deputy Commissioner of Islamabad Hamza Shafqaat while talking to Gulf News said a criminal case would be registered against those involved in hoarding, profiteering and black marketing of the medicine. Conviction of the crime will lead to three years in prison, he added.

Sharif complains life-saving drugs vanishes from market

Opposition Leader in the National Assembly and former Chief Minister of Punjab Shahbaz Sharif also took to Twitter and complained that life-saving drugs as well as other necessary medicines had gone short in the market.

“At a time when Pakistan is hit by pandemic the essential medicines and drugs as well as other necessary equipment are either unavailable or being sold at gold rates,” said Sharif adding the fact that local administration stands paralyzed against this situation, people are in great pain and anxiety.

High Court judge tests positive

A judge of the Islamabad High Court (IHC), Justice Lubna Saleem Pervez has tested positive for the novel coronavirus. She is the only woman judge of the seven-judge high court of the federal capital detected positive with COVID-19.

After testing positive the judge quarantined herself and the staff of her court has also been sent to 14-day isolation period.

Last month, her secretary also tested positive for the virus. Earlier, reader of the IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah, Secretary to Justice Fiaz Ahmed Anjum Jandran and Secretary to another judge Justice Ghulam Azam Qambrani also tested positive.

Chief Justice’s reader Imran Khan however has been tested negative but the tests of other members of the court’s staff are awaited.

Punjab to fix coronavirus test charges

Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar has directed the provincial health minister and Secretary, Secondary Healthcare and Medical Education (SH&ME) to fix the fee being charged for coronavirus tests at all the privately-run labs.

The chief minister gave these directions after reports appeared in the media that private labs were charging enormous amounts of money for Covid-19 tests and some laboratories and traders were hoarding oxygen cylinders.

The chief minister directed the health department to ensure suitable test fees and implementation of it. “The government would never allow private labs to loot people. He also stressed availability of oxygen cylinders at fixed rates and said that a “legal action would be initiated against hoarders,\.”5,209 new cases, 136 deaths in 24 hours

The number of deaths caused by the coronavirus in Pakistan jumped to 3,229 on Friday from Thursday’s figure of 3,093 — an increase of 136 deaths within 24 hours. Similarly, with an increase of 5,209 new cases of coronavirus in the last 24 hours, the total number of virus infections stood at 165,062 across the country.