Pakistan In Medical Crisis: Struggles To Secure Drug Supplies After India Trade Halt Following Pahalgam Terror Attack
Pakistan In Medical Crisis: Amid rising fears of another war between India and Pakistan, sources have confirmed that Pakistan is currently grappling with an acute medical crisis after India's halt on trade. The halt comes in the wake of the brutal terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. This trade disruption has further strained Pakistan's already fragile healthcare system, which is now battling severe shortages of essential medicines and life-saving drugs.
The sudden halt on trade between India and Pakistan, primarily affecting the supply of medicines and other pharmaceutical goods, comes after Pakistani-backed terrorists entered India and killed 26 innocent tourists in Pahalgam earlier this week. The attack also led to multiple casualties and a complete shutdown of Jammu and Kashmir.
According to the reports, Pakistani health authorities have initiated "emergency preparedness" measures to secure necessary pharmaceutical supplies after they suspended all trade ties with India. The suspension comes in response to India's decision to suspend the Indus Water Treaty following the Pahalgam terror attack, Islamabad on Thursday suspended all trade with New Delhi, among other moves.
Local media reported that India's trade halt triggered "urgent measures to secure" pharmaceutical needs in Pakistan and health authorities have initiated "emergency preparedness" measures to secure the supplies.
The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) has confirmed that while there has been no formal notification regarding the ban's impact on the pharmaceutical sector, contingency plans are already in place, it said.
"Following the 2019 crisis, we had started preparing for such contingencies. We are now actively looking at alternative avenues to meet our pharmaceutical needs," the report quoted a senior DRAP official as saying.
According to the current data - Pakistan relies on India for 30% to 40% of its pharmaceutical raw materials, including Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) and various advanced therapeutic products.
In the wake of the trade halt between India and Pakistan, the Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (PPMA) has expressed grave concern in its latest media conference. The agnecy highlighted that the halt in trade could lead to increased mortality rates due to the lack of essential medicines. Speaking to the local media, officials said, "The country's medical professionals fear that this disruption will increase the medical burden that the country is carrying currently. There will be an acute shortage of proper treatment of cancer, diabetes, and other chronic conditions that require specialized medication."
Officials have confirmed that to deal with this medical crisis, DRAP has already asked other countries to help them. These countries include China, Russia, and several European nations.
"DRAP aims to ensure the continuous availability of essential medical supplies, including anti-rabies vaccines, anti-snake venom, cancer therapies, monoclonal antibodies, and other critical biological products", sources quoted as saying.
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