The supply of medicine, baby milk and vaccines is likely to be affected by the ongoing war in the Gulf
KARACHI:
The ongoing conflict involving Iran, Israel and the United States has disrupted Pakistan’s imports of life-saving and essential medicines, raw materials for pharmaceutical production, baby formula and various vaccines due to the suspension of international flights.
If the war is prolonged, importers warn that Pakistan could face severe shortages of medicines and vaccines, which could result in a dramatic increase in drug prices.
In addition, following an increase in petrol prices due to the conflict, the prices of medicine and other essential goods have unofficially increased, putting further pressure on already struggling citizens. Healthcare has become largely unaffordable for the public, and further inflation could put patients’ lives at risk.
Pakistan has not been able to produce raw materials for medicine domestically, even after 70 years of independence. With the conflict widening to involve the Gulf countries, raw materials that normally come via Dubai are now facing import difficulties.
Pakistan’s stock of pharmaceutical raw materials only lasts for one and a half months. In addition, medications that were previously smuggled from Iran are currently unavailable.
Health experts warn that Pakistani workers returning from the Gulf countries because of the war will put further pressure on domestic health facilities. Baby formula in Pakistan is mostly imported and prolonged conflict could lead to a severe shortage.
Mohammad Atif Hanif Baloch, president of the Wholesale Chemists Council of Pakistan, revealed that the prices of life-saving medicines have unofficially increased over the past two years.
“If the war in the Gulf continues, the prices of all medicines could rise dramatically, including cancer, diabetes, insulin and heart medicines. The war could also cause a severe shortage of baby formula, which is completely imported, along with a sharp increase in prices.
“Many essential drugs are already experiencing price increases every two months, and there is currently no strategy to control these prices. Most of these drugs are used by low-income populations, and essential treatments such as chemotherapy injections, heart drugs and insulin have already doubled in price,” Baloch noted.
Abdul Samad Budhani, chairman of the Pakistan Chemist & Drug Association, claimed that Pakistan’s drug stock was currently only enough for two months.
“If the conflict continues, the logistics of medicine, infant formula and raw materials will be disrupted, which is likely to lead to price increases. Currently, 55-60 percent of pharmaceutical raw materials are imported from India and 40-45 percent from China,” Budhani said.
Senior pharmacist Dr. Usman Ghani explained that vaccines are considered life-saving medicine. “Globally, vaccines were initially preventive but are now increasingly used therapeutically. Some vaccines come from specific countries and the ongoing war between Iran and Israel has disrupted imports, which could cause shortages in Pakistan.
“Even WHO-qualified vaccines may not reach Pakistan if the conflict continues. Raw materials for medicine production come through the Gulf countries and prolonged conflict will seriously affect imports and the supply chain,” said Dr. Ghani.
Former Director of Health Karachi, Dr. Akram Sultan, noted that the conflict could seriously disrupt the import of medicines, raw materials and vaccines.
“Pakistan currently has no strategy to produce pharmaceutical raw materials domestically. The government could not establish a pharmacopoeia and local pharmaceutical companies do not focus on producing raw materials.
“If the government implements third-party procurement of raw materials from India, it will increase drug prices because raw materials from other countries are cheaper and more readily available,” said Dr. Sultan.
