As the dollar rate rises against the Afghani, several Kabulis are now expressing concern that the price of medicine in the country’s markets has doubled. Several patients in Kabul point out that the closure of borders and the decline in drug imports to Afghanistan have doubled the most common drug in the country’s markets. Ahmadullah, a patient in Kabul, said: “I came to Parwan Hotel from New Karte to find the medicine I was looking for at a low price, but the drug dealers say the price of each medicine package is 350 Afghanis. “It has doubled, and the economic situation has plummeted.”

 

Several drug dealers believe that the rise in drug prices is the closure of borders. Dr. Ali Rasekh, a pharmacist in Kabul, said: “And the import and export of spices are weak, so the medicine price is rising.”

 

Meanwhile, Esmatullah is another drug dealer who could hardly bring the amount of medicine to his store. He now has to sell all his medicines twice because the dollar price against the Afghani has risen to an all-time high. “People go to the drugstore when they ask for its price. We say the price of the drug. Some of them say they have a habit. Some argue about why the price says it’s not worth it. People buy drugs without a cure.” “People are frail, and they are deteriorating day by day.”

 

The Afghan Ministry of Public Health, while acknowledging this, refuses to comment. With the rising value of the dollar against the Afghan currency, many drug dealers, as well as groceries in Kabul, want to close their stores, as rising prices for raw materials and medicines have reduced their customers.