By Hsu Latt Phyu - Apr 07, 2024
According to pharmacies in Yangon, the prices of most medicines and related products are rising and there are also shortages.
Medicines called OTC drugs (Over the counter medicines) that can be readily purchased at pharmacies, such as Enervon C, cost 1,000 Kyats, Oramin G-F cost 800 kyats and Ferovit cost 300 kyats per tablet currently.
In addition, there is a shortage of some contraceptive drugs and the cost of diabetes and antihypertensive drugs are raising.
Not only the Western drugs but also the Burmese traditional one is also rising, and depending on the type of medicine, the price varies from a few hundred to several tens of thousand kyat.
“If I have to tell clearly, a Burmese traditional medicine which never increased in price now increased to 300 or 400 kyats per bottle. It have been so long the price of western medicines were increased. Currently, both shortage and cost increment are happening. We have to sell some brands that we didn’t used to. They are differ in country of origin and price but have the same effect. Chronic patients with addicted medications face difficulties. The price is doubled and they have no choice but to buy it. We have to give them some pills which have same effect,” said a person who runs a pharmacy store.
Some pharmacies couldn’t operate anymore due to the medicine shortage and increase in price which effect the decline of the demand.
“The price is not stable and we don’t get benefits from selling medicines anymore. We have to store as much as we can for some widely used drugs We get benefits from selling drugs by tablets but the profit go away as the capital to buy more medicines. I have to run two businesses which the other one is a money transfer agent,” said a pharmacy store owner from Shwe Pyi Thar.
It is also said that 70 percent of the medicines used in the country are imported from abroad, and the price of the medicine increased due to the rising dollar price.
“The Yadanar Htun Toothpaste powder which cost only 500 cost 750 now. The western carminative also cost 1,800 kyats. A blister pack of multivitamin for my mom cost 3,700 kyats and Decolgen cost 2,500 kyats too. Although we bought drugs due to its importance, it would not be convenient for long term. And many people would suffer if it get worse,” said a house wife.
The prices of basic food products have risen, and there have been shortages of medicines and personal items after the military take over.
