Drugmakers, hospitals prepared for medical emergencies along border states

Critical drugs, medical consumables, and blood bank resources have been stocked and kept ready in hospitals across Punjab, with emergency response drills being conducted.

Pharmaceutical companies and hospital chains have assured the Centre of adequate medical supplies and preparedness, should any need arise, after Pakistan attempted to escalate tensions with India along the western borders.

"Critical care products related to hospitals like cephalosporins, painkillers and haemostatic agents… India has enough capacity to meet any eventuality," said Dharmesh Shah, chairman and managing director of Mumbai-based BDR Pharmaceuticals, manufacturer of critical care injectables. Shah also mentioned that the Centre generally stockpiles a certain quantum of critical care medical supplies.

The Fortis Hospital in Amritsar, which is only 30 kilometres from the Pakistan border, has confirmed activating emergency preparedness protocols to face any medical exigencies, following an advisory by the District Authorities.

Among the measures undertaken by Fortis in Punjab include placing emergency services on high alert, mobilizing a Rapid Response Team, reserving beds for emergency admissions, and keeping a trauma team on standby. Aside of Amritsar, Fortis has hospitals in Ludhiana and Mohali, all in the state bordering Pakistan.

Critical drugs, medical consumables, and blood bank resources have been stocked and kept ready in hospitals across Punjab, with emergency response drills being conducted. One official from the Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance (IPA) told Moneycontrol that the industry is always prepared to support the government with necessary medicines and medical consumables.

Read More: EY India asks employees to work from home as India-Pakistan conflict escalates

In times of war or armed conflict, the need for medical care becomes both urgent and complex. The types of medicines and care required ranges from emergency trauma treatment, chronic disease management, infectious disease control, and mental health support. Some of the medical items considered critical include painkillers such as morphine, paracetamol, antibiotics like amoxicillin, ciprofloxacin, tetanus injections, haemostatic agents to stop bleeding, IV fluids and electrolytes. In addition, the industry would also be required to procure medical consumables like bandages, sutures, splints, surgical kits and blood transfusion supplies.

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India is considered as the 'Pharmacy of the World' as it supplies the bulk of global medicine demand, with Indian companies exporting critical medicines to both Russia as well as Ukraine, during the ongoing conflict. India’s pharma industry also played an important role during the pandemic, scaling up manufacturing of Covid-testing kits and vaccines, even as hospitals were stretched to expand their capacities.

"At the moment, the focus of the government is on military objectives, with casualties along the LoC largely being treated by government healthcare facilities," said Ameera Shah, President of healthcare body NATHEALTH and Executive Chairperson, Metropolis Healthcare.

Read More: E-commerce delivery disrupted in parts of north and west India amid border tensions

"In case if there is any escalation of the situation, our members are ready to offer support to the government as we did during the Covid pandemic," Ameera Shah added.

India’s armed forces launched ‘Operation Sindoor’ on the night of May 8, to target terror camps in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) as well as the Punjab region in Pakistan, in retaliation to the Pahalgam terror attack in Kashmir that claimed 26 civilian lives. India has maintained that the precision strikes were non-escalatory in nature, avoiding civilian or military installations.