ISLAMABAD: The artificial shortage of medicines created by manufacturers has left patients at the mercy of profiteers and black-marketers. On the other hand, the government and the Drug Regulatory Authority are completely indifferent to this issue. Daily Times has learnt that pharmaceutical companies have created an artificial shortage of medicines in the market in order to mount pressure on the government to increase the prices of various medicines. As a result, patients and their family members are going through a severe mental agony. According to the sources, several medicines are not available in the market. They include Myrin, Myrin-P, Myrin–P Forte, Mymbupol, Seretide 25/250, Flurix, Wymox 250mg, Wymox 500mg, Wymox 125mg, Wymox 250mg, Duodart 4mg, Motival, Frisium, Arinic, Herbesser 90mg, Herbesser 180mg, Sancos, Mosegor, Hydergin 1.5/4mg, Hydergin, Benadryl, Benallin, Deltacortril 5mg, Deltacortril-ec, Triaminic, AZM, Prednisolone 5mg, Methotrexate 2.5 mg/10 mg and Typhim. In the prevailing situation, Daily Times contacted Drug Inspector Sardar Shabbir for his comments. He said that efforts were underway to ensure availability of lifesaving drugs in the market. Drug Regulatory Authority Chief Executive Officer Dr Muhammad Aslam told Daily Times that the Sindh High Court had given several stay orders due to which at 71 drugs were not available in the market. He said that negotiations were underway to normalise the supply of drugs to the market. Sources told Daily Times that medicines of heart diseases, TB, allergy, cold and cough and cholesterol were in short supply nowadays.