ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s imports of medicines, vaccines, baby formula and pharmaceutical raw materials have been disrupted due to the Iran–Israel–US conflict and suspension of international flights, industry representatives and health experts said.
Pakistan relies heavily on imported pharmaceutical ingredients, with limited domestic production capacity.
According to Abdul Samad Budhani, chairman of the Pakistan Chemist and Drug Association, 55–60% of pharmaceutical raw materials are imported from India and 40–45% from China.
He said Pakistan currently has medicine stocks sufficient for roughly two months, warning that prolonged disruption could affect imports of medicines, baby formula and raw materials.
Importers warned that if the conflict continues, the country could face shortages of medicines and vaccines along with higher drug prices. They said Pakistan’s current stock of pharmaceutical raw materials may last about one-and-a-half to two months, raising concerns over supply continuity.
Supply routes have also been affected because many pharmaceutical shipments normally transit through Dubai and other Gulf countries.
Healthcare experts said rising petrol prices linked to the conflict have also increased distribution costs, contributing to unofficial price increases for medicines and essential goods.
Mohammad Atif Hanif Baloch, president of the Wholesale Chemists Council of Pakistan, said prices of life-saving medicines have already been rising in recent years.
“If the war in Gulf countries continues, prices of all medicines could rise dramatically, including cancer, diabetes, insulin and heart medications,” he said.
Baloch added that baby formula, which is largely imported, could also face shortages if the supply chain remains disrupted.
Senior pharmacist Dr Usman Ghani said vaccines could also be affected because many shipments rely on routes passing through Gulf countries.
