The Long- Term effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on the supply chain

As we find ourselves in 2024, four years after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the world has made significant progress towards recovery from the effects of this pandemic. However, the virus’s long- term effects continue to influence our lives, particularly in the field of healthcare. One of the most significant concerns affecting global healthcare systems is the ongoing lack of medical supplies and pharmaceuticals. 

The pandemic exposed flaws in the global pharmaceutical supply chain. Many countries, which rely heavily on imports for essential medications, had severe shortages during the peak of the pandemic. Today, these shortage continue for a variety of reasons:

• The pandemic caused an increased demand for a variety of medications such as antibiotics, antivirals and treatments for secondary infections. Furthermore, the treatment of prolonged COVID symptoms further increased the demand for particular medications (World Health Organisation, 2023)
•  Moving medical supplies around is still difficult. The logistics sector is still recuperating from the pandemic’s effects, despite the lifting of numerous restrictions. The distribution process has been hindered by workforce and container shortages, port congestion, and shipping delays (Logistics Management, 2023).
• There are still delays as a result of the first closures of manufacturing facilities in major production hubs like China and India. Subsequent viral waves and the requirement for facilities to adhere to new health and safety rules contributed to these delays (Harvard Business Review, 2022).
• The pharmaceutical sector is dependent on a worldwide network of suppliers of raw materials. Shortages have been made worse by bottlenecks in the production of drugs caused by disruptions in the availability of these components (Pharmaceutical Technology, 2023).

The persistent shortage of pharmaceuticals and medical supplies has several significant implications for healthcare systems around the world.

• Patients experience delays in receiving essential medical care, which may eventually exacerbate their medical conditions and raise their overall expenses of care (Journal of the American Medical Association, 2023).
• The cost of some pharmaceuticals has gone up due to scarcity, which has put a greater strain on healthcare budgets and made it harder for populations with lower incomes to acquire necessary medications (The Lancet, 2023).
• Physicians face increased demands to provide patient care while working with constrained resources, which can result in burnout and lower care quality (New England Journal of Medicine, 2023).

A multi- faceted approach is needed to address the long-term consequences of COVID-19 on the availability of pharmaceuticals and medical supplies:

• Institutions such as governments must make investments in supply networks that are more diverse and robust. Increasing local manufacturing capacities and lowering reliance on a small number of significant suppliers are two examples of this (McKinsey & Company, 2021).
• Medication approval and distribution can be accelerated by simplifying regulatory procedures. Harmonising laws and fostering international collaboration can also be very important (World Health Organization, 2023).
• Using new technology to predict demand and transparently manage supply chains, such as blockchain, will help reduce the impact of upcoming disruptions (Harvard Business Review, 2022).
• International cooperation is necessary to guarantee fair access to medical supplies on a global scale. The distribution of other necessary pharmaceuticals can be modelled after initiatives like COVAX, which aim to distribute vaccines in an equitable manner (World Bank, 2023).
• Funding for Healthcare Infrastructure: More money can be allocated to healthcare infrastructure, especially in underprivileged areas, to help create more robust systems that can endure future crises (The Lancet, 2023).

The COVID-19 epidemic may be over, but its long-term consequences are still posing problems for the global healthcare system. The ongoing scarcity of pharmaceuticals and medical supplies serves as a reminder of the weaknesses that the pandemic revealed. The world can improve its readiness for possible future health emergencies and ensure that everyone has access to the necessary medical treatment by taking note of these difficulties and making investments in more robust systems.

References

-World Health Organization. (2023). Managing Increased Demand for Pharmaceuticals in a Post-COVID World.

–Harvard Business Review. (2022). The Global Supply Chain Crisis and Its Effects on the Pharmaceutical Industry.

–Journal of the American Medical Association. (2023). Long-Term Healthcare Costs Due to COVID-19.

–Logistics Management. (2023). Shipping and Logistical Challenges Post-COVID.

–McKinsey & Company. (2021). Building More Resilient Supply Chains.

–New England Journal of Medicine. (2023). Healthcare Worker Burnout in the Wake of COVID-19.

–Pharmaceutical Technology. (2023). Raw Material Shortages in the Pharmaceutical Industry.

–The Lancet. (2023). Economic Impact of Medication Shortages.

–World Bank. (2023). Addressing Global Inequities in Healthcare.

Maya Camilleri Sacco