From Oil to Medicine: How the War Triggered a Global Health Crisis?

SadaNews - The recent war against Iran, led by the United States, revealed the extent of the interconnected - and perhaps fragile - nature of global drug supply chains. A missile strike can disrupt and paralyze these chains, resulting in a healthcare system suffering from shortages in supplies such as intravenous solutions in Bangkok or catheter tools in Brussels.

This cascading effect begins with the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, through which about a quarter of global oil and gas exports pass, representing 25% of the oil transported by sea.

Oil and gas are the primary sources of petrochemicals used in manufacturing most medicines and polymers utilized in the production of medical supplies. Moreover, transit corridors in the Middle East account for 10% to 20% of the global pharmaceutical trade.

The Gulf Arab states (Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait) serve as a pivotal transit point for distributing medicines, connecting countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, India, and the United States. The pharmaceutical industries in these Gulf states are valued at $23.7 billion, with 80% of the medicines imported coming through the Strait of Hormuz or the Gulf airspace.

The Most Affected Medicines

Temperature-sensitive medicines are classified as the most at risk of damage and, consequently, shortages in market availability. For instance, cancer drugs must be stored at refrigerated temperatures ranging from 2°C to 8°C, along with vaccines and insulin that require specific temperatures during storage to ensure their validity and effectiveness.

Thus, any disruption of shipping during transit, and ships getting stuck for days in the strait, leads to the spoilage of medicines, followed by shortages in the market and delays in compensating for this over a longer period. As a result, supply chains are disrupted and the availability of urgently needed medicines for healthcare systems diminishes.

Impact on MRI Diagnostic Capabilities

The war targeting Iran indirectly affected the healthcare sector, as the impact of missile strikes extended to gas production facilities in Qatar, including helium production facilities, of which Qatar is the second-largest global producer, accounting for about 33%.

Helium is used as a primary cooling liquid in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) devices, given that it is one of the coldest materials on Earth.

With one of the largest helium suppliers in the world affected, it is expected that supplies will decrease while prices will rise due to increased demand and difficulties in sourcing.

This shortfall may pose challenges for hospitals and health centers, especially regarding the maintenance or efficient operation of MRI machines, which could impact the quality of diagnostic services.

It is noted that more than 95 million people worldwide undergo MRI examinations annually, with about 50,000 machines in use and approximately 5,000 new machines produced each year.

Widespread Painkillers in Trouble

Many medicines rely on chemical raw materials derived from oil, the most notable of which is propylene, used in the manufacturing of common painkillers like paracetamol and ibuprofen.

When the strait is closed or the arrival of supplies of these raw materials is delayed, demand for them surges significantly. Additionally, increased oil prices and rising shipping and insurance costs elevate the production costs of these medicines, even though they are generally considered low-cost.

This negatively impacts supply chains, causing drug prices to rise in the markets - especially those that were already suffering shortages and disruptions before the war - exacerbating the crisis and making access to them even more difficult.

WHO Warns

Although major pharmaceutical companies maintain a stock of ready medicines sufficient for about six months, and distribution company stocks may last 25 to 30 days, which means that the medication shortage will not be immediately noticeable to consumers, the ongoing war, closure of straits, and disruption of shipping will eventually lead to the depletion of medicines in some global markets.

In light of the rapidly evolving situation and the expected repercussions in the near term, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Director-General of the World Health Organization, warned of the serious effects of the war on the global health sector.

He indicated that drug supply chains may face immense pressure due to increased demand, driven by the deterioration of health conditions in the affected countries and their surroundings.

He also cautioned that the destruction of oil facilities could lead to the contamination of soil, air, and water, increasing the risk of disease, particularly among the most vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, and patients with chronic illnesses. He called for urgent action to mitigate these risks before they escalate and broaden their impact to encompass various facets of the health system.

Source: Al Jazeera