Hans News Service Bengaluru

Concernsare mounting over a potential shortage of medicines in Karnataka, as pharmaceutical companies have written to the Health Minister highlighting disruptions in drug production and supply.

Although a temporary 15-day pause in tensions between Iran and the United States has eased concerns for Indian ships stranded near the Strait of Hormuz, the situation has not improved domestically. Karnataka continues to face an ongoing LPG gas shortage, which is now affecting multiple sectors, including healthcare.

The pharmaceutical industry has warned that the combined impact of global geopolitical tensions involving the United States, Israel, and Iran, along with local supply issues, is disrupting the supply chain for essential raw materials. This has particularly impacted the availability of drugs imported from abroad, raising concerns about continued production. In their letter to the Health Minister, pharmaceutical companies stated that if the situation persists, it could significantly hinder medicine manufacturing in the state.

One of the major challenges highlighted is the shortage of LPG gas, which is crucial for producing petrochemicals used in manufacturing tablet foils. Supply chain disruptions caused by the ongoing conflict have further aggravated the issue. As a result, drug prices are expected to rise sharply. Industry sources indicate that prices of over 600 medicines—including paracetamol, cardiac drugs, diabetes medications, gastric tablets, cough syrups, and iron tonics—may increase by 15 to 20 percent starting from the first week of April.

Typically, annual price hikes in medicines range between 5 to 10 percent. However, due to the current crisis, a significantly higher increase is anticipated this year, raising concerns among patients and healthcare providers alike.