TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Shortages of drug-packaging supplies are feared as Middle East war-related petrochemical disruptions squeeze plastic film supplies, though officials say access to medicines remains stable for now.
Per the Liberty Times, health authorities say at least one community pharmacy has reported running out of plastic-film bags for tablets. These are the semi-opaque plastic bags used to carry dispensed medicines.
The Food and Drug Administration estimates each pharmacy bag now costs about NT$0.8 (US$0.025) more. Some retailers are reportedly relying on existing stock that may last only until April due to higher material costs and tighter supply chains.
While pharmacy bag prices have risen, the increase is still small relative to overall production costs, Liberty Times reported FDA Director-General Chiang Chih-kang (姜至剛) as saying. He said the government intends to ensure prescription drugs and medical devices remain available to patients without disruption.
Chiang added that Taiwan’s monthly demand for plastics used in drugs and medical devices is about 900 tonnes. This represents a fraction of the country’s total plastics output, though priority will be given to pharmaceutical and med-tech firms.
To coordinate responses, the FDA has opened a “Middle East-related drug and medical device supply-disruption reporting” mechanism, allowing plastic-film makers, resin suppliers, and manufacturers to flag shortages.
On price pressure, Chiang said the FDA is working with the National Health Insurance Administration to explore drawing on up to NT$20 billion (US$630 million) from the Cabinet’s resilience-related special budget and the National Health Insurance safety reserve. If needed, the money could be used to adjust reimbursement and cushion drugmaker margins, Liberty Times reported.
