Pakistan's medicine sales crossed Rs. 1.049 trillion in the 12 months ending March 2025, showing a growth of 20.62 percent. But the numbers tell a troubling story about who's really paying the price.
Price hikes, not increased medicine use, drove 68.96 percent of this growth. In simple terms, Pakistanis are paying much more for roughly the same amount of medicine.
Actual medicine sales by units rose just 3.63 percent to 3.77 billion units. That's a tiny increase compared to the massive jump in money spent.
Over five years, the volume of medicines sold grew only 5.49 percent, raising serious questions about whether ordinary people can still afford basic healthcare.
The currency's weakness made things worse. While sales grew 19.09 percent annually in rupees over four years, they grew just 4.05 percent in dollar terms. This shows how much the rupee's fall and price increases drove the numbers up.
Pakistani drug companies sold 2.91 billion units with a 4.98 percent increase. They now dominate the market in terms of actual medicine volumes.
Foreign pharmaceutical companies sold 856 million units, down 0.72 percent, but their sales value jumped 19.04 percent. They're selling less medicine but making more money through higher prices.
Last year, 636 new products entered the market, bringing in Rs. 7.15 billion in revenue—less than 1 percent of total sales.
Experts warn the industry needs better price controls and policies that protect patients while keeping companies profitable. Right now, the medicine market is growing on paper, but fewer Pakistanis can actually afford what they need.
