Syria facing severe shortage of medicines and medical supplies: World Health Organisation

MUMBAI: The civil war in Syria has lead to a severe shortage of essential medicines and pharmaceutical products in the country, according to a latest report by the World Health Organisation.

Over 90% of the medicines in Syria were locally produced before the unrest that began in February 2011. But since then the WHO says that economic sanctions, currency fluctuations and increased operational costs have hit the production of medicines.

The Republic of Syria has been under violent civil war, since 2011 which has claimed the lives of close to 30 thousand people and displaced 1 million civilians.

The manufacturing plants, which are located in the areas of rural Aleppo, Homs and rural Damascus have been shut down as clashes among the rebels and the Syrian army has in the last few months.

"The World Health Organization is reporting severe shortages in medicines and pharmaceutical products in the Syrian Arab Republic as a result of the current crisis" said the WHO report.

"Many of these patients are still dependent on locally produced medicines that are now no longer obtainable, and the reported shortages could have catastrophic results", it added.

Syrian Ministry of Health statistics show that prior to the unrest, 52.7% of the population was receiving treatment for gastrointestinal diseases, respiratory diseases, cardiovascular diseases, renal diseases and cancer.

The WHO has estimated a total of $21 million that is required to "cover the critical gap in health needs inside Syria until the end of 2012" Of this 21 million, $17.5 million is required for medicines and medical supplies.