Thai FDA moves to prevent drug supply shortages amid oil crisis

The Thai Food and Drug Administration (Thai FDA) has adopted two measures to prevent shortages of raw materials for pharmaceutical products and packaging as the oil crisis deepens.

The Commerce Ministry will propose adding plastic pellets and bottled drinking water to the list of controlled products to the Central Committee on Prices of Goods and Services tomorrow.

It is also seeking to require manufacturers of essential products to obtain permission from the ministry before increasing prices.

Thai FDA Secretary-General Supatra Boonserm said today that the war in the Middle East has driven up oil prices and transportation costs, causing shortages of raw materials, especially plastic pellets used in medicine packaging. This has affected producers and pushed up the prices of plastic products.

To help producers, she said the Thai FDA has agreed to allow them to change sources of raw materials through fast-track channels to address shortages, and to modify packaging if there is a lack of packaging materials.

She assured that changes to medicinal packaging will not affect the quality of the medicines.

For life-saving medicines, such as those used in cancer treatment and surgery, Supatra said the Thai FDA will promote the use of alternative and herbal medicines as a mid-term measure.

Nikorn Nonjui, inspector-general at the Commerce Ministry, said today that many businesses currently have no justification for raising prices, as their goods were produced and stocked before the current energy crisis.

Regarding essential goods such as tissue paper, shampoo, detergent, washing liquid, dishwashing liquid, soap and sanitary towels, he said the Central Committee on Prices of Goods and Services will be asked to tighten price controls by requiring producers to seek permission from the Commerce Ministry before raising prices, instead of merely notifying the ministry as is currently the case.

Nikorn added that the Commerce Ministry plans to hold “Blue Flag” sales promotions from March to August to provide consumers with affordable necessities.