The widely used over-the-counter (OTC) drug panadol and paracetamol may not be available in markets as the company that produced the brands has stopped production of both the drugs.
Panadol is a generic drug used to treat fevers, minor pains such as headaches and vaccination shot ache.
The company has cited cost-effectiveness for not manufacturing the drug anymore.
The manufacturer, who has been requesting authorities to raise the price of Panadol, claims that production was no longer financially viable.
According to the Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Association of Pakistan, the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) reportedly issued a summary to the health ministry requesting an increase of Rs 1per tablet, but the federal cabinet rejected the document.
The association says the manufacturer could not sell the medicine at less than the production cost.
According to the pharmaceutical industry, the manufacturing of the tablets has been fully stopped.
DRAP has been formally informed that some of the tablets sold by pharmacies are fraudulent.
Panadol is among the highest selling medicine brands in the country, with demand for the drug being the highest in Punjab. The medicine comes in formulations meant for infants, children and adults. A sister brand named Panadol Extend is also part of the company’s products.
