Drug shortage may hit Pakistan amid coronavirus pandemic

Almost 90% of the raw material used by the local pharmaceutical industry is imported from two neighbouring countries

KARACHI: There are growing fears that acute shortage of essential medicines is impending in Pakistan as supplies of raw material from China and India have hit a snag amid global COVID-19 pandemic.

Almost 90 per cent of the raw material used by the local pharmaceutical industry is imported from the two neighbouring countries.

The number of novel coronavirus cases in Pakistan climbed to 183 with provincial authorities in Sindh and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa confirming 115 and 15 new cases respectively on Monday.

A large number of drugs used in Pakistan for chemotherapy, neurological diseases, psychological and psychiatric disorders including depression are already running short, Ghulam Hashim Noorani, Chairman of Pakistan Chemist and Drugs Association Sindh told The Express Tribune.

In addition to the medicines, surgical masks, surgical gloves, sanitizers and other medical products are also running short. Whereas, the price of large-sized thermo gun has jumped from Rs3,000 to Rs20,000.

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has also directed authorities to launch a crackdown against shopkeepers, who are selling overpriced sanitizers and tissue papers.

Former chairman of Pakistan Pharmaceutical Association Zahid Saeed told The Express Tribune that India has restricted supply of raw materials used in the production of over a dozen medicines in Pakistan while air operations with China remained suspended owing to coronavirus due to which the raw material is being transported via ships, prolonging the delivery time.

Consequently, the production of medicines has been reduced significantly which can trigger a medicine crisis in the next couple of months.

Former director of Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) Dr Ubaid Ali said the coronavirus outbreak has wreaked havoc across the world and it could also adversely affect availability of medicines in the country.

Refuting reports that the virus will be eliminated in high temperatures, he said that a junk of unscientific information is being spread on social media.