Across Asia, the cost of medicine is rising, and recent global tensions are making the situation worse. In countries like the Philippines and Malaysia, patients are facing higher prices and growing uncertainty over supply.
The ongoing conflict in the Middle East is pushing up oil prices and disrupting shipping routes. These changes are increasing transport and production costs for medicines, which are heavily traded across borders. For many Asian countries that rely on imports, the impact is immediate.
This crisis is not just economic. It affects how people access treatment, manage illness, and cope with daily life.
Philippines: High Prices Expose Structural Weaknesses
In the Philippines, medicine prices are already among the highest in the region. A report by IBON Foundation shows that some drugs increase in price by over 273% before reaching patients. These increases come from import costs, distributor layers, retailer markups, and taxes.
This sys
...
Loading comments...