Pharmacist Suphattra Boonserm, Secretary-General of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), revealed that amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, the Ministry of Public Health has designated the FDA as the central agency to closely monitor the situation of medicines, medical supplies, and other health products in Thailand. This includes critical emergency drugs used in operating rooms, dialysis solutions, saline, medicines for chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs), and cancer treatments. The FDA has established a war room to report on the drug situation weekly, monitoring both finished drug stockpiles and key raw materials used in drug production, focusing particularly on over 60 essential medicines. Current data indicates that there are sufficient drug reserves for at least three months. However, costs have risen by 10-15% due to increased shipping fees, freight charges, fuel costs, insurance, and longer delivery times. The FDA plans to use this information to find solutions and ease challenges, such as relaxing registration rules to allow raw materials from alternative countries, with a special fast-track approval process.
Pharmacist Suphattra added that there are no issues with saline and dialysis solutions themselves, but concerns exist regarding the plastic containers used for packaging. The plastic raw materials come from certain Middle Eastern countries. Suppliers are seeking alternative sources of raw materials, and if severe problems arise, they may alter the packaging type. Plans are also in place to promote reuse of containers, provided they meet quality, safety, sterility, and standard requirements. Additionally, if plastic quota allocations are necessary, the Ministry of Public Health will propose that relevant agencies prioritize pharmaceutical and medical product needs first. The FDA will communicate to manufacturers, hospitals, and clinics not to stockpile medicines and medical supplies beyond normal usage needs. The agency affirms that control remains effective. For consumers, there is no impact because medicine and medical supplies are price-controlled products. Regarding psychiatric drugs, most are controlled substances or active substances regulated by the FDA, which closely monitors their purchase and sale, maintaining a normal situation.