Tetanus injection being sold at ‘exorbitant rates’ as Karachi faces acute shortage

People injured in accidents face extreme difficulties due to unavailability of anti-tetanus injection

Amid an acute shortage of tetanus injections, the Pakistan Chemists and Druggists Association (PCDA) has raised alarms over the issue, with its Senior Vice Chairman Abdul Samad Badhani reporting that some chemists are exploiting the situation by selling the injections on the black market at prices up to ten times higher than usual.

For the past month and a half, Karachi and other major cities, including Lahore, have been facing a critical shortage of tetanus injections, essential for preventing infections from wounds, across medical stores and pharmacies.

This shortage has created significant hardships for individuals injured in accidents, as the injections are also unavailable in private clinics and hospitals. Medical experts emphasize that the anti-tetanus injection must be administered within 72 hours post-injury to prevent bacterial infection.

Badhani highlighted the dire situation, noting that the lack of raw materials in the global market has halted the production of the injections. This scarcity has driven the price of the normally Rs50-55 five-milliliter injection up to tenfold on the black market.

However, he assured that, according to drug manufacturing companies, the issues hindering production have been resolved and the injections should soon be back on pharmacy shelves.