Kazakhstan is experiencing challenges in securing medication imports from Ukraine, according to the country's Health Minister.
In a recent announcement, the Minister of Health, Ajar Giniyat, revealed issues with the supply of essential pharmaceuticals to Kazakhstan, primarily sourced from Ukraine. According to the Director of the Department of Drug Policy, Bauyrzhan Jusipov, out of the 25 types of drugs in question, 40% have been delivered to Kazakhstan from Ukraine.
These drugs are crucial for both hospital treatment and home care of patients, and include epinephrine, isosorbide dinitrate, haloperidol, isoniazid, and ethambutol. The current shortage stems from the disruption in Ukraine's healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors due to the ongoing conflict, which has strained the country's ability to manufacture and export medicines.
Kazakhstan's trade ties with Ukraine are modest, primarily historical and family-based, involving small volumes of goods. As a result, the country does not have robust alternative sourcing within Ukraine for these critical medicines. Furthermore, the regional instability and potential attacks on logistics infrastructure escalate risks in medicine transit, particularly for pharmaceuticals linked to Ukraine’s production or transit routes.
To mitigate these issues, potential solutions include diversifying supply sources, increasing domestic pharmaceutical production, engaging in regional cooperation, and strategic stockpiling of critical medicines. By seeking alternative suppliers beyond Ukraine, Kazakhstan could look to established producers in countries like Russia, China, the EU, or India, who have large, reliable medicine manufacturing sectors.
Investing in local pharmaceutical manufacturing, particularly for essential drugs such as epinephrine and anti-tuberculosis agents (isoniazid and ethambutol), could reduce Kazakhstan’s reliance on unstable foreign supplies. Regional cooperation could help facilitate medicine importation and reduce tariffs or logistical barriers, while strategic stockpiling could buffer against future disruptions.
As of today, 40% of the procured medications are in medical organizations and on the shelves of the single distributor. Fortunately, there are no major issues with delivery from Europe, Russia, and Belarus. However, the government is considering this issue within the framework of the legislation, and the Ministry of Health has not reported sufficient insulin reserves at SK-Farmacia warehouses at this time.
In summary, the shortages in Kazakhstan reflect the broader regional health and supply disruptions due to the war in Ukraine. Kazakhstan’s response should focus on supply diversification, domestic production capability, and strategic resource management, as well as taking advantage of eventual improvements in Ukraine’s healthcare reform to stabilize supply chains.
Causes:
- Disruption in Ukraine's healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors due to the war.
- Limited direct trade ties with Ukraine, primarily historical and family-based, involving small volumes of goods.
- Regional instability and logistics risks due to the conflict and potential attacks on logistics infrastructure.
Potential Solutions:
- Diversifying supply sources beyond Ukraine.
- Increasing domestic pharmaceutical production, particularly for essential drugs.
- Engaging in regional cooperation to facilitate medicine importation and reduce tariffs or logistical barriers.
- Strategic stockpiling of critical medicines to buffer against future disruptions.
Summary Table
| Cause | Impact | Solution | |-------------------------------------|------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------| | Ukraine war disrupts medicine production and export | Shortages of imported pharmaceuticals; slowed supply chains | Diversify import sources; reduce dependency on Ukraine | | Modest direct trade with Ukraine | Limited alternative supplies within Ukraine | Develop local production; seek other international suppliers | | Regional instability and logistics risks | Risk to transit and availability of medicines | Increase strategic stockpiling; enhance regional logistics cooperation |
Science plays a vital role in addressing the medical-conditions that necessitate the use of drugs like epinephrine, isosorbide dinitrate, haloperidol, isoniazid, and ethambutol for hospital treatment and home care. The current health-and-wellness crisis in Kazakhstan, stemming from a disrupted supply of essential pharmaceuticals from Ukraine, highlights the need for informed decision-making in dealing with such situations.
As the response to this predicament, Kazakhstan could consider various potential solutions, such as diversifying supply sources, increasing domestic pharmaceutical production, engaging in regional cooperation, and strategic stockpiling of critical medicines. By exploring alternative suppliers beyond Ukraine, countries like Russia, China, the EU, or India could provide viable options, given their robust medicine manufacturing sectors.
