Planning for resilience in pharmaceutical supply chains with natural bioactive compounds

Abstract

Pharmaceutical supply lines present vulnerabilities in a multipolar, connected world. Supply lines were tested during the Covid-19 crisis and in some cases, they have not fully recovered. Geopolitical considerations, and the presence of viable alternatives, means that resiliency can be encourages through the adjunctive and alternative use of natural medicines. In many cases, commonly used pharmaceutical medications can be replaced? by herbal medicines. This information is compiled into an accessible table for the top 25 prescription drugs by sales volume.

Introduction

Pharmaceutical supply lines, like any supply lines, are subject to disruptions due to multifactorial causes. Disruptions occurred in 2020 due to Covid (1), and many have continued since then. Two hundred and sixty one drugs that are in a state of shortage(2). To respond to this, a national stockpile of some generic medicines has been created in the USA.

Given the tenuousness of some people’s medical conditions, should geopolitical crises emerge, there would nee to be alternate supplies, as many are manufactured in foreign countries with fragile supply lines. Covid-19 disruptions gave an example of what can happen during supply chain disruption.

Even in the pre-covid period, shortages were common in French hospitals, where one university medical center registered 1780 medicine procurement disorders, each lasting a median duration oof 56 days (3). The most commonly affected classes of medication using the Anatomical Therapeutic and Chemical (ATC) classification were nervous system, anti-infectives and cardiovascular system medicines. ?

The top 25 drugs by sales volume (4) in 2021 are provided below, along with their indication and approximate prevalence of that indication in the US population. The rightmost column links to a general review of herbal therapies which also address the same indication. These may be used to reduce reliance on pharmaceuticals, as pharmaceuticals may have fragile supply lines.

This is not medical advice.

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Conclusion

Herbal formulations may reduce reliance on global supply lines for therapeutic products. They may also have other benefits including support of local economy, environmental benefits from growth of herbs, and may reduce medical expenditures. Overall, herbal medicines may be a useful tool in addressing the chronic disease epidemic and reducing exposure to supply chain disruptions.

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