The private pharmaceutical sector warned that shortages have effected the distribution of up to 90,000 units of medication in Oaxaca, Chiapas and Guerrero, states where the teachers’ protests are ongoing.
In a press conference, Juvenal Becerra Orozco, the president of the National Pharmacies Union (Unefarm), and Víctor Soto, the general director of the pharmaceutical distributor Levic, said that in those three states, 400 independent pharmacies are in emergency situations and in the last 15 days their financial losses have surpassed 18 million pesos ($908,303).
The pharmaceutical industry leaders said that due to the inaccessibility of conflict zones, pharmacies have been unable to receive shipments of between 20,000 and 30,000 units of medication in each of these states.
During the 8th National Pharmaceutical Congress, representatives said that the situation is particularly concerning for consumers who are unable to access medication for chronic ailments such as diabetes.
The speakers noted that there are communities where pharmacies have closed due to security concerns and that some banks are not open, impeding the flow of cash.
Although the report released only made reference to private-sector pharmacies registered in Unefarm, analysts said that the shortages and lost profits are industrywide.
