Pakistan Has 3-Month Medicine Stock, Says DRAP

The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) has stated that Pakistan currently maintains sufficient stocks of essential medicines to meet domestic demand for approximately three months, notwithstanding concerns regarding potential supply disruptions arising from the ongoing Middle East crisis.

According to the regulator, apprehensions regarding shortages have emerged amid increasing treatment costs and the risk of supply chain interruptions. Authorities have also cautioned against possible exploitation of the situation through hoarding and black-market activities.

DRAP indicated that no immediate increase in medicine prices is anticipated and confirmed that efforts are underway to identify and utilise alternative supply routes to ensure uninterrupted access to critical raw materials.

Pakistan remains significantly dependent on imported Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs), a substantial portion of which transit through Middle Eastern corridors, thereby exposing supply chains to geopolitical instability.

Officials from the health ministry noted that pharmaceutical manufacturers typically maintain limited inventories of raw materials due to financial constraints, which could heighten vulnerability to shortages in the event of prolonged global supply disruptions.

They further highlighted that rising fuel prices have escalated freight and insurance costs for shipments routed through the Gulf region, prompting coordinated efforts between the government, DRAP, and industry stakeholders to monitor inventory levels and sustain supply continuity.

The Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (PPMA) stated that, at present, the situation remains stable, with raw material stocks sufficient for approximately three months. Industry representatives also emphasised that adequate supplies of essential medicines are available and warned against the spread of misinformation that could trigger panic buying or hoarding.

DRAP’s assessment of leading manufacturers revealed that approximately half of the available inventory consists of finished pharmaceutical products, while the remaining portion is held in the form of raw materials.

The authority further noted that while a majority of APIs are imported from China, approximately 15 percent transit through Gulf countries, rendering that segment of the supply chain susceptible to regional disruptions.

Medicines for rare diseases, which are not extensively produced domestically, are imported from countries including the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, and Türkiye.

DRAP also confirmed that vaccine stocks are sufficient for approximately two months and that, apart from routes affected in the Gulf region, other international trade channels remain operational.

Healthcare professionals have cautioned that any disruption in the availability of medicines could have immediate and serious consequences for patients suffering from chronic conditions, including Diabetes, Hypertension, and Chronic Liver Disease, where uninterrupted access to medication is critical for disease management.

Authorities stated that monitoring mechanisms, including a complaint system for patients facing shortages of rare disease medicines, have been implemented to ensure continuity of supply and timely intervention where required.