Medicine supply stable despite Mideast conflict, says govt
2026-03-23 - 05:50
The health ministry said its proactive measures include the establishment of Taskforce 1, comprising pharmaceutical industry stakeholders, to monitor and ensure the security of the supply of medicines. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s medicine supplies remain stable and well-managed, the health ministry said today, amid the conflict in the Middle East. The ministry said government facilities maintain one to three months of stock, supported by buffer reserves held by private concessionaire companies supplying medicines through logistics agreements. “Based on current evaluations, the short-term impact of the Middle East conflict is minimal,” it said in a statement. The ministry also said local pharmaceutical manufacturers have reported having raw material stocks for up to three months and finished products for about two months, while importers are monitoring their own supply chains. Continuous monitoring is also in place through the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA), which manages a reporting system for supply disruptions, it said. The ministry said no increase in supply disruption reports had been detected as of March 22. “The ministry will continue to monitor the developments of the conflict in the Middle East and is committed to taking proactive measures, including the establishment of Taskforce 1, comprising pharmaceutical industry stakeholders, to monitor and ensure the security of the supply of medicines, especially those under the National Essential Medicines List in Malaysia,” it said. Malaysia remains a net importer of pharmaceuticals, with imports rising from RM7.8 billion in 2019 to RM11.3 billion in 2023, while exports stood at only RM2.9 billion. Industry groups such as the Malaysian Association for Pharmaceutical Suppliers are tracking suppliers and inventory levels more closely and diversifying sourcing where possible in view of the Middle East conflict. Public‐health experts have also urged the government to treat “medicine security” as a national‐security‐adjacent issue.