The US-Israel regime's war on Iran is causing significant economic disruptions worldwide. Initially focused on oil, gas, and fertilizer prices, the conflict has now led to a sharp increase in pharmaceutical costs, including medicines and contraceptives.

In the United Kingdom, pharmacies have raised prices for over-the-counter drugs by 20 to 30 percent. The common painkiller paracetamol has more than quadrupled in price. In India, chemists report a 96 percent increase in the price of paracetamol.

Since the early days of the war, Iran has blocked the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20 percent of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas supplies transit. Experts say this has disrupted pharmaceutical supply chains reliant on petrochemical feedstocks.

Frederic Schneider, a nonresident senior fellow at the Middle East Council on Global Affairs, told Al Jazeera that pharmaceuticals are tied to petrochemical feedstocks sourced largely through the Persian Gulf. He also noted that logistics routes between East Asia and Europe have key transshipment points in the Gulf, particularly Dubai, which are vulnerable.

Wouter Dewulf, a professor at the University of Antwerp, warned that 35 percent of pharmaceuticals move by air, and about 90 percent of critical or life-saving medicines do so as well. He estimates that 22 percent of global air cargo flows are exposed to Middle East disruptions, leading to delays, rerouting, and higher costs.

Olivier Picard, chair of the National Pharmacy Association in the UK, said the wholesale price of a pack of 100 500mg paracetamol tablets jumped 41 pence (55 cents) to £1.99 ($2.69) by the end of March, but later eased to £1.09 ($1.47).

Experts say the countries most affected are those directly involved in the conflict, such as Lebanon, Palestine, and Iran, as well as fragile, aid-dependent nations like Sudan, Yemen, and Palestine. Gulf markets are also at risk, especially for cold-chain and cancer medicines.

Source: www.aljazeera.com