ON my recent visit to a friend’s house, I learnt that his 72-year-old mother had been diagnosed with stage IV cancer. Naturally, my friend was in distress. I accompanied him as he took his mother to the gastroenterologist who recommended an endoscopy on her.

During this process, we were asked by the medical team to provide a particular brand of gloves that were needed for the procedure. Upon purchasing these gloves, we were surprised by the cost; a single pack was priced at Rs350. I noted that the gloves had been manufactured in Sri Lanka, a country known for its recent economic challenges.

If Sri Lanka is capable of producing such medical supplies, why is Pakistan unable to manufacture basic products domest-ically? The question highlights broader concerns about the state of local manuf-acturing capabilities and the challenges facing the healthcare sector in Pakistan.

Muhammad Mansoor Khattak
Karak

Published in Dawn, October 7th, 2024