Pakistan is facing severe shortage of essential medicines as supplies of its raw materials from China and India have been blocked due to the global novel coronavirus pandemic.
According to a news report published in The Express Tribune, almost 90 per cent of the raw material used by the local pharmaceutical industry is imported from the two neighbouring countries.
“India has restricted supply of raw materials used in the production of over a dozen medicines in Pakistan, while air operations with China are suspended owing to global coronavirus spread,” Zahid Saeed, the former chairman of Pakistan Pharmaceutical Association told the newspaper.
Consequently, the production of medicines has been reduced significantly which can trigger a medicine crisis in the next couple of months.
Ghulam Noorani, chairman of Pakistan Chemist and Drugs Association Sindh as said that a large number of drugs used in Pakistan for chemotherapy, neurological diseases, psychological and psychiatric disorders including depression were facing acute shortage.
Moreover, shortage of medicines, surgical masks, surgical gloves, sanitizers and other medical products is also much visible in the markets.
The national toll of novel coronavirus cases in Pakistan has raised to 246, with provincial authorities in Sindh and Punjab confirming 181 and 26 confirm cases respectively.
According to a news report published in The Express Tribune, almost 90 per cent of the raw material used by the local pharmaceutical industry is imported from the two neighbouring countries.
“India has restricted supply of raw materials used in the production of over a dozen medicines in Pakistan, while air operations with China are suspended owing to global coronavirus spread,” Zahid Saeed, the former chairman of Pakistan Pharmaceutical Association told the newspaper.
Consequently, the production of medicines has been reduced significantly which can trigger a medicine crisis in the next couple of months.
Ghulam Noorani, chairman of Pakistan Chemist and Drugs Association Sindh as said that a large number of drugs used in Pakistan for chemotherapy, neurological diseases, psychological and psychiatric disorders including depression were facing acute shortage.
Moreover, shortage of medicines, surgical masks, surgical gloves, sanitizers and other medical products is also much visible in the markets.
The national toll of novel coronavirus cases in Pakistan has raised to 246, with provincial authorities in Sindh and Punjab confirming 181 and 26 confirm cases respectively.