IMPACT OF ACTIVE PHARMACEUTICAL INGREDIENT (API) SCARCITY IN PHARMACEUTICAL SECTORS AMIDST COVID-19 PANDEMIC

The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was characterized as a global pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) on March 11, 2020 The present pandemic has caused an intolerable impact on the health structure as well as the pharmaceutical sector, which in ultimatum has created enormous issues in the everyday lives of the patient community On the other hand, the situation may appear in short and long-term time-horizon and need identifiication along with appropriate planning to reduce their socio-economic burden The Indian pharmaceutical industry is the world's third-largest drug producer by volume India supplies affordable and low-cost generic drugs to millions of people around the globe and operates more than 250 United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) and United Kingdom Medicine and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (UKMHRA) approved plants Given the Indian pharmaceutical industry, the source of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) for multiple diseases is much crucial part of the Pharma industry's strategic plan to combat the COVID-19 pandemic China is the top global producer and exporter of APIs by volume and Indian pharmaceutical industries are also rely heavily on APIs from China for the production of their medicine formulations by importing around 70 percent of the total requirement However, the present pandemic situation has exposed the world's over-reliance on China in terms of API import and bound world leaders to fig out sustainable alternatives