Effect on trade between India and Pakistan: Pakistan's health services in danger amid pharma crisis

International News: The terrorist attack in Pahalgam not only affected the security situation, but also had a profound impact on the business relations between India and Pakistan. When India suspended the Indus Water Agreement, Pakistan completely stopped its trade from India. The biggest impact of this decision is on Pakistan's pharmaceutical needs, due to which the supply of drugs has been disrupted. Pakistan's Health Department has started 'emergency preparations' to deal with this crisis.

Crisis in Pakistan's supply of drugs

Pakistan's Health Department is now intensifying the search for alternative sources to maintain the supply of necessary medicines in the country. Pakistan was largely dependent on India for the supply of drugs, and now when the trade has stopped, the risk of lack of necessary drugs has increased. According to Pakistan's Drug Regulatory Authority (DRAP), no official ban has been imposed on the import of drugs, but an official reported that preparations were going on to deal with such a situation since the Pulwama attack.

Dependence on India and increasing threat to crisis

Pakistan imports 30% to 40% of its pharmaceutical material from India. This includes active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), cancer medicines, life-saving medicines such as anti-rebukes and anti-stenic venom. Now there is a danger of lack of these drugs due to interruption in business, which has become a major challenge for Pakistan's health services.

Looking for alternative supply sources

DRAP is now interacting with China, Russia and some European countries to supply essential medicines. Its purpose is to ensure that there is no shortage of essential medicines in Pakistan and there is no obstruction in health services.

Increasing concerns of black market

The black market of medicines is already active in Pakistan. Medicines from Afghanistan, Iran, Dubai and Indian border are illegally brought to the country. Now, when the business is completely closed, it is feared that this black market may spread even more, which can lead to a huge increase in the prices of drugs and will make it even more difficult for ordinary people to get drugs. This situation has become a serious crisis for Pakistan's health system and it will be necessary to take quick steps to solve it.