Three months after the Taliban ordered a halt to pharmaceutical trade with Pakistan, medicine prices in Kabul have risen by as much as 40 precent, according to pharmacy owners and market sources.
Formal medicine imports have largely stopped, and many drugs are now entering the market through smuggling routes.
Afghanistan International spoke with pharmacy staff in Kabul who said the prices of several essential medicines and syrups have increased sharply.
Amclav-DS syrup (60 ml), an antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections including respiratory and ear infections, has risen from 61 afghanis to 100 afghanis. Cefiget DS syrup (200 mg/5 ml), another antibiotic used for skin and respiratory infections, has increased from 72 afghanis to 100 afghanis.
Cosome-E syrup, used to relieve cough and cold symptoms and support the immune system, has risen from 27 afghanis to 65 afghanis. Ventolin Expectorant (Salbutamol/Guaifenesin), a bronchodilator used to treat asthma and respiratory conditions, has increased from 33 afghanis to 65 afghanis and is now difficult to find in many pharmacies.
Trimetabol syrup (150 ml) has risen from 53 afghanis to 85 afghanis, while Co-amoxiclav (625 mg), an antibiotic for moderate to severe infections, has increased from 50 afghanis to 75 afghanis.
A pharmacy manager in Kabul said shortages of many medicines have created serious difficulties for patients, families and healthcare workers. Another pharmacist said no country has been able to replace Pakistan as a fast and affordable source of medicines.
In October, Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Taliban’s deputy prime minister for economic affairs, instructed traders and industrialists to find alternative routes for importing medicines, warning that the continued closure of border crossings with Pakistan would affect markets and ordinary people.
He also asked medicine importers to settle their contracts with Pakistan within three months and shift to other supply routes. Since then, Taliban officials have travelled to India, Turkiye, Iran and Central Asian countries to address shortages, but no effective solution to reduce medicine prices has yet been found.
