Korea faces unexpected medical supply shortages amid Iran war

Syringes in 5 mL and 10 mL sizes are mostly sold out at a medical device store in Seoul on April 7, leaving only a single box of 20 mL syringes on the shelf. Yonhap

Fears of shortages in syringes and IV packaging materials as a result of the U.S.-Iran war are spreading through Korea’s healthcare sector, prompting authorities to urge medical providers to refrain from stockpiling.

Frontline clinics and pharmacies, however, say there is little left to hoard, warning that prolonged supply disruptions could hamper patient care, with local clinics typically holding about a week’s worth of supplies and pharmacies around two weeks’ worth.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare said at a briefing Tuesday that measures had been put in place to ensure a stable supply of IV packaging materials over the next three months.

“Panic buying is the biggest threat to the stability of medical supply distribution, and unfair business practices will be punished without exception,” Health and Welfare Minister Jung Eun-kyeong said, signaling a swift investigation if price fixing, collusion or production cuts are detected.

Medical providers on the front lines are already struggling to secure essential medical supplies as the U.S.-Iran war drags on. Surging oil prices have driven up the cost of naphtha, a key raw material used to make plastics and medical packaging. As a result, the production of medical equipment such as syringes, IV packaging materials and sachets is coming under strain.

Authorities said they would prioritize the supply of naphtha for the production of medical supplies. According to the ministry, the government has secured a one-month stockpile of finished syringes and a three-month stockpile of needles, while raw materials for additional production have also been secured.

Naphtha processing facilities at Yeochun NCC in the Yeosu National Industrial Complex in Yeosu, South Jeolla Province / Yonhap

Large hospitals, which typically keep several months’ worth of medical supplies on hand, are not yet feeling the strain. Smaller hospitals and clinics, however, are beginning to come under pressure.

“Small clinics and hospitals often do not keep sufficient stockpiles of syringes and IV bags, partly because they lack storage space,” said Jung Kyung-sil, head of the Office for Social Welfare Policy. “When inventories begin to run low and online marketplaces start showing signs of items selling out, it can understandably fuel a sense of panic.”

Health authorities urged medical facilities to buy only what they need for the month, warning that excessive purchases could artificially drive up demand and weaken the government’s efforts to stabilize supply.

Health and Welfare Minister Jung Eun-kyeong, left, visits a pharmacy to hear concerns over the supply of pharmaceuticals and medical devices in Seoul’s Yangcheon District on April 6 . Yonhap

Frontline medical providers, however, say there is little left to hoard even if they wanted to.

Kim Sung-geun, spokesperson for the Korean Medical Association, said nearly all major items on the online marketplaces used by hospitals were sold out, even though independent clinics typically purchase supplies on a weekly basis.

“Concerns have been mounting since April 1,” he said. “If factory inventories are as sufficient as the government says, then there appears to be a problem somewhere in the distribution chain, creating a mismatch between supply and demand.”

He added that the atmosphere of panic would likely ease if clinics were able to secure the medical consumables they immediately need. The association also plans to issue guidance to its members after discussing options such as shortening prescription periods, following the government’s request.

Pharmacies are facing similar difficulties. On average, they have about two weeks’ worth of inventory, said Choi Hyeon-su, head of the External Cooperation Committee at the Korean Pharmaceutical Association.

“With reports emerging that prices for plastic containers have already tripled, the impact could be severe if the war drags on,” he said.

For sachets, some manufacturers have begun limiting purchase volumes to prevent shortages caused by stockpiling.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety is monitoring online shopping platforms for abnormal pricing patterns in syringes. If collusion is detected, the Fair Trade Commission can impose fines of up to 20 percent of sales linked to the illegal practices.

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.