A troubling trend is emerging in Pakistan’s healthcare landscape: escalating drug prices, fuelled by a recent deregulation policy. While proponents argue it fosters market competition, a growing chorus of health policy experts and patients fear it is simply a green light for pharmaceutical companies to prioritise profit over public health. As Dr. Obaidullah, CEO of the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP), recently admitted, companies now have significant control over pricing, and the consequences are already being felt. “It’s a dangerous game of chicken with people’s health,” explains Dr Ayesha Khan, a public health specialist at Aga Khan University Hospital. “When you remove price controls, you’re essentially saying that access to life-saving medication is a privilege, not a right. And that’s a deeply concerning ethical position.”