Fluctuations in the foreign exchange market and the continued depreciation of the Sudanese pound are placing increasing pressure on citizens returning to the capital, Khartoum, forcing them to confront a sharp rise in medicine prices, which have increased by nearly 30 percent over the past two weeks.
Thousands of patients and their families are facing growing financial difficulties in securing the cost of treatment amid record poverty levels that have exceeded 73 percent.
Medical circles and pharmaceutical import companies are also increasingly concerned about the possibility of shortages in essential medicines, as some suppliers have temporarily suspended sales to protect their inventories against further currency volatility.
Economists have called on the government to intervene urgently and reactivate the Strategic Commodities Portfolio to finance the pharmaceutical sector through revenues generated from gold exports.
Pharmacy owners reported that some patients have begun purchasing only part of their prescribed medications because they can no longer afford the full cost of treatment.
They also warned that some patients may resort to herbal remedies and abandon medical treatment altogether, particularly those suffering from diabetes, kidney disease, and high blood pressure, a trend that could pose serious health risks.
