The prices of essential Medical Equipment and diagnostic kits have surged dramatically in Islamabad, raising concerns about healthcare affordability for citizens. Patients and healthcare providers are struggling to cope with the sharp rise, which experts link to inflation and currency devaluation.
According to market reports, the price of a wheelchair has doubled from Rs 9,000 to Rs 18,000, while crutches that once cost Rs 700–1,600 are now being sold for Rs 2,500–4,000. The cost of sugar meters has also jumped significantly, increasing from Rs 500 to as high as Rs 2,500.
Basic Medical Equipment such as stethoscopes and blood pressure monitors have seen similar increases. Stethoscopes that were once priced between Rs 500–700 now cost Rs 2,000–3,000. Meanwhile, blood pressure machines that previously sold for Rs 1,500–2,800 are now listed between Rs 4,500 and Rs 6,000.
Larger diagnostic machines have also become more expensive. Chemistry analyzers, crucial for laboratory testing, now range from Rs 600,000 to Rs 700,000 — more than double their earlier price of Rs 200,000–300,000.
Test kits have not been spared either. Liver function (LFT) and renal function (RFT) tests, once affordable at Rs 300–700, now cost up to Rs 1,100. Thyroid test kits have increased from Rs 1,000 to Rs 3,000, while fitness test kits have climbed from Rs 1,200 to Rs 5,000.
Healthcare professionals warn that the continuous rise in Medical Equipment prices could make essential treatment and diagnosis unaffordable for many patients. They have urged authorities to review import duties and stabilize the market to ensure critical supplies remain accessible.
As inflation continues to rise, both hospitals and private clinics in Islamabad are struggling to maintain affordable healthcare services amid soaring operational costs.
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