How the coronavirus triggers off global drug shortages - Shaun Rein

Shaun Rein

Health organizations have been warning for shortages in essential drugs, now supplies from China are disrupted. But the problems are more fundamental than a concentration of drug production in China, also Indian manufacturers get into trouble, warns business analyst Shaun Rein at the BBC.

The BBC:

The world's biggest supplier of generic drugs has restricted exports of 26 ingredients and the medicines made from them. 

The restricted drugs include Paracetamol, one of the world's most widely-used pain relievers. 

It comes as many drug ingredient makers in China remain shut or cut output. India's drug makers rely on China for almost 70% of the active ingredients in their medicines, and industry experts have warned that they are likely to face shortages if the epidemic continues. 

"Even drugs that aren't produced in China get their base ingredients from China. Globally there could be a shortage if China and India both get hit," warned analyst Shaun Rein from the China Market Research Group. 

The list of ingredients and medicines accounts for 10% of all Indian pharmaceutical exports and includes several antibiotics, such as tinidazole and erythromycin, the hormone progesterone and Vitamin B12.

More at the BBC.

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