The supply of medicines, infant formula 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 essential and life-saving medicines, raw materials for pharmaceutical production, baby formulas and various vaccines due to the suspension of international flights.
If the war drags on, importers warn that Pakistan could face serious shortages of medicines and vaccines, which could result in a dramatic increase in drug prices.
Furthermore, following the rise in oil prices due to the conflict, prices of medicines and other essential goods have unofficially increased, putting further pressure on already struggling citizens. Healthcare has become largely unaffordable to the public and further inflation could endanger patients’ lives.
Pakistan has not been able to produce raw materials for medicines domestically even after 70 years of independence. As the conflict expands to involve Gulf countries, raw materials that normally arrive through Dubai now face import difficulties.
Pakistan’s reserves of pharmaceutical raw materials are only enough for a month and a half. Additionally, medications that were previously smuggled from Iran are currently not available.
Health experts warn that Pakistani workers returning from Gulf countries due to war will put additional pressure on national health facilities. In Pakistan, baby formula is mainly imported and a prolonged conflict could lead to serious shortages.
Mohammad Atif Hanif Baloch, Chairman of the Council of Wholesale Chemists of Pakistan, revealed that prices of life-saving drugs have been increased unofficially over the past two years.
“If the war in the Gulf countries continues, the prices of all medicines could rise dramatically, including cancer, diabetes, insulin and heart medications. The war could also cause a serious shortage of baby formulas, which are entirely imported, along with a sharp rise in prices.
“Many essential medicines already see price increases every two months, and there is currently no strategy to control these prices. Most of these medicines are used by low-income populations, and essential treatments such as chemotherapy injections, heart medications and insulin have already doubled in price,” Baloch said.
Abdul Samad Budhani, president of the Pakistan Chemists and Drugs Association, said Pakistan’s stock of medicines is currently only enough for two months.
“If the conflict continues, the logistics of medicines, baby formulas and raw materials will be affected, which is likely to lead to price increases. Currently, 55-60 per cent of pharmaceutical raw materials are imported from India and 40-45 per cent from China,” Budhani said.
Senior Pharmacist Dr. Usman Ghani explained that vaccines are considered life-saving medicines. “Globally, vaccines were initially preventive, but are now increasingly used for therapeutic purposes. Some vaccines come from specific countries, and the ongoing war between Iran, Israel and the United States has disrupted imports, which could cause shortages in Pakistan.
“Even WHO-qualified vaccines could not reach Pakistan if the conflict continues. Raw materials for drug production arrive through the Gulf countries, and a prolonged conflict would severely affect imports and the supply chain,” Dr Ghani said.
Former Karachi health director Dr Akram Sultan noted that the conflict could seriously disrupt imports of medicines, raw materials and vaccines.
“Pakistan currently does not have a strategy to produce pharmaceutical raw materials domestically. The government has failed to establish a pharmacopoeia and local pharmaceutical companies are not focused on raw material production.
“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 easier to get,” Dr Sultan said.
