THE BIG PHARMA MESS

The pandemic has exposed a serious fault line in the global pharmaceutical supply chain, created by an industry that flourished by putting profit before public health. Amid shortage of life-saving drugs, countries now scramble for self-sufficiency. But circumventing market dynamics may not be easy

- VIBHA VARSHNEY AND KUNDAN PANDEY

In February-end, when the United States confirmed 60 cases of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), President Donald Trump dismissed it. “This is like a flu,” he said. Within weeks, the US had 0.2 million cases and the number of deaths crossed that of the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001. A grim-faced Trump now called the contagion “vicious” and to tackle the unprecedented crisis, the US scrambled to get life-saving medical supplies by hook or by crook. In India, Tamil Nadu had ordered 0.4 million rAPId test kits from China to tackle a sudden spurt. The consignment was to reach the state on April 9, but Washington, in all likelihood, put pressure on Chinese manufacturers and the kits were swiftly diverted to the US.

Like the US, all nations are scurrying for medical supplies and they are ready to play dirty. With close to 3 million people hit by COVID-19 globally and over 0.2 million dead, pharmaceuticals have turned out to be the most vital sector. It’s about national security, say countries, and each wants to reduce its dependence on foreign supplies. On March 25, for instance, when the coronavirus, sars-Nov-2, was spreading rAPIdly, the European Union included health, medical research and biotechnology as part of its “restrictive list” of foreign investment. Italy was then the worst affected after China and begged EU member nations for face masks. Instead of offering help, Germany and the Czech Republic promptly banned the export of masks and other protective equipment. Germany intercepted a truck, on way to Switzerland with 240,000 masks, before it left German soil. Turkey and Russia followed suit.