Medicine shortage to hit Pakistan amid middle-east tensions

ISLAMABAD: The ongoing conflict between Iran, Israel, and the United States is raising concerns over the supply of life-saving medicines, baby formula, vaccines, and pharmaceutical raw materials in Pakistan.

The international flight suspension, together with global supply chain disruptions, has already created difficulties for importing goods. Industry representatives say Pakistan needs to import 55 to 60 percent of its raw materials from India and 40 to 45 percent from China to produce medicines.

Importers have warned that if the war continues, Pakistan will experience a critical shortage of medicines and vaccines, which will cause drug prices to increase substantially.

After petroleum product prices increased, markets began to implement unofficial price increases for medicines and essential goods, which created additional financial burdens for people.

Experts say Pakistan has not developed domestic production facilities for pharmaceutical raw materials, which has persisted for multiple decades since the country became independent.

The Gulf region tensions have created obstacles for raw material shipments that use Dubai as their transit point. The country currently possesses pharmaceutical raw materials that will only sustain operations for one and a half to two months.