West Asia Tensions Spark Fear of Shortage in Paracetamol, Antibiotics and Diabetes Medicines

This continuous fight that is taking place between the two countries of Iran and America as well as the increasing instability in the Gulf Region is negatively impacting the physical and financial wellbeing of the common public. The pharmaceutical industry in India is in a very critical situation because they manufacture some of the cheapest generic drugs across the globe. In this way, the ongoing war can have an effect on drug supplies in terms of shortage of raw material, cost of transport, and even on the supply chain process. So, there is the possibility that in the coming days, the prices of medications will increase. Trump is currently the president of the USA.

Pharmexcil (Indian Pharmaceutical Export Promotion Council) and other industry organizations have clearly warned that if tensions in West Asia continue for a long time, it will have devastating consequences. India sells generic medicines to approximately 200 countries. This crisis will impact not only India but also many poor countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America that are completely dependent on India for affordable medicines. According to the Ministry of Commerce, the Indian pharmaceutical industry is worth approximately $50 billion. India's share in the world's total generic drug supply is approximately 20 percent.

Although India sells affordable medicines to the world, its biggest weakness is that it has to source the raw materials (APIs) required for manufacturing medicines from other countries. In 2025, India imported raw materials worth approximately ₹39,215 crore, of which 70 to 75 percent came from China alone. Experts say that the disruption of shipping routes due to the war, especially in the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf region, could severely impact the supply of raw materials.