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Germany’s pharmaceutical industry has warned of increasing risks of drug shortages if the ongoing war linked to Iran continues to disrupt global supply chains.
Dorothee Brakmann, CEO of Pharma Deutschland, told the Bild newspaper that “many medications and packaging rely on raw materials from the region. A helium shortage could delay production, and rising transportation and material costs are straining the supply chain.”
Current shortages mostly affect essential raw materials that are indispensable for producing many medications. Without these inputs, production can either be delayed or limited.
Health economist Prof. David Matusiewicz also cautioned that while there is no immediate threat of widespread shortages, the ongoing conflict is having a noticeable impact on global pharmaceutical supply chains. “The longer the conflict drags on, the more likely it is that there will be delivery delays, price increases, or temporary shortages of certain medications,” he said.
Medications requiring reliable cold chains are particularly at risk. These include cancer treatments, modern biologic drugs for autoimmune diseases, and other temperature-sensitive therapies. Emergency medications such as insulin may also become harder to obtain.
German Health Minister Nina Warken noted that although there is currently no immediate danger, many key medicine shipments pass through the Strait of Hormuz, making the country vulnerable to disruptions.
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