Despite the resumption of production in more than six pharmaceutical factories in Sudan’s capital, Khartoum, the crisis persists and patients continue to suffer in Khartoum, Omdurman, Bahri, and several states across the country due to a decline in both local and imported pharmaceutical supplies. As a result, thousands of Sudanese face the risk of death due to the unavailability of life-saving and essential medicines, particularly drugs for blood pressure, diabetes, antibiotics, and even intravenous solutions. Conflict-affected areas have also witnessed a sharp and unprecedented rise in mortality rates.
The breakdown of order, authorities’ preoccupation with the war, weak regulatory oversight, and lack of quality control have contributed to the widespread circulation of counterfeit and expired medicines sold on the black market without supervision, creating a severe public health crisis that threatens countless lives.
Death Cases
In this context, Salma Abadi, a resident of Al-Shajara in Khartoum, said that the shortage of medicines has affected essential treatments such as those for hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, kidney failure, and pain relief, significantly worsening patients’ conditions. She added that the deepening crisis has already led to multiple deaths, with many citizens losing hope of recovery and fearing sudden death at any moment.
She further noted that the worsening drug crisis has increased mortality rates, especially among patients with chronic illnesses, stating that more than 12 elderly people have died in areas including Al-Azhari, Al-Andalus, and Mayo, in addition to other cases in Al-Lamab and Jabra suburbs.
Abadi emphasized that the crisis is no longer limited to the availability of medicines, but also concerns their quality and authenticity, especially with the spread of unknown and expired drugs in the market, posing serious risks to public health.
Challenges and Interventions
According to pharmacist Ibrahim Hamid, the ongoing war has contributed to a decline in both local and imported pharmaceutical supplies, forcing patients to search for medicines from pharmacy to pharmacy without success. He stressed the need for urgent government intervention to address the deepening crisis.
Hamid warned that the resumption of production in some Khartoum-based pharmaceutical factories has not significantly eased the shortage, as these factories mainly produce limited categories of medicines such as drugs for hypertension, diabetes, and antibiotics, which are insufficient for the population’s needs, especially with the return of displaced people to the capital.
He also highlighted that one of the biggest challenges facing pharmaceutical production is the instability of electricity supply, which remains the main obstacle to restoring full operational capacity. As a result, factories rely on diesel and solar energy, leading to significantly higher production costs.
Measures and Protocols
Meanwhile, the Sudanese Ministry of Health held a meeting with the Pharmaceutical Coordination Council to discuss a series of measures aimed at mitigating the impact of the recent war in Iran and the near-total closure of the Strait of Hormuz, and to prevent shortages of medicines and medical supplies.
Health Minister Hitham Mohammed Ibrahim said the meeting focused on three main pillars, including pharmaceutical availability amid regional conflict developments, securing drug and medical supply chains through the National Fund and companies, and opening new cooperation channels with other countries.
He added that discussions also covered the pharmaceutical manufacturing sector and domestic investment projects, with an agreement to develop a comprehensive strategy to support the sector.
The minister further noted that Sudan has agreed to join a World Health Organization initiative on pooled procurement among regional countries, in coordination with the organization to strengthen pharmaceutical security.
The Secretary-General of the National Council for Medicines and Poisons, Mohammed Bashir, stated that precautionary measures include activating protocols with several countries outside the Gulf region and expanding contract manufacturing of medicines and medical supplies.
Meanwhile, the head of the Pharmaceutical Importers’ Association, Walid Mohammed Ahmed, warned that key challenges facing import companies include delays in shipments, rising shipping and insurance costs, and increased prices of raw materials and production inputs. He added that shortages will directly affect medicine availability in pharmacies, with insurance and transport costs rising by 100 to 120 percent.
A Harsh Reality
Cancer patients in Sudan are facing a particularly difficult situation following the closure of the Al-Dawrah Oncology Hospital in recent days by the Khartoum State Sanitation Administration due to outstanding financial obligations.
Hisham Abu Bakr, a patient receiving treatment in Omdurman, said that essential chemotherapy drugs have completely run out, and the few available medicines in pharmacies have become prohibitively expensive. He stressed that access to healthcare is a fundamental human right and warned that the lack of treatment will lead to preventable deaths.
He added that, from his experience, the healthcare sector has become a black market driven by profit rather than medical quality or patient care.
Widespread Chaos
Conflict-affected areas are experiencing a severe shortage of medicines, particularly emergency drugs, blood transfusion supplies, and treatments for chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, thyroid disorders, as well as antibiotics and pediatric medicines. Mental health and neurological drugs are also largely unavailable, contributing to reported cases of suicide and worsening health conditions among patients.
Mahdi Mustafa, a resident of Al-Nahud in West Kordofan, said that diabetic patients searching for insulin are repeatedly told that the medication is unavailable, leading to deteriorating health conditions.
He added that towns in West Kordofan have suffered from widespread disorder since the Rapid Support Forces took control of parts of the region, with expired medicines entering through smuggling routes and becoming widely traded without regulation, worsening the public health crisis.
A Major Crisis
Save the Children International said that rising transport costs are affecting aid budgets, which are already under severe strain due to significant reductions in donations. Shipping container costs have increased by 25 to 30 percent, with some companies rerouting vessels around the Cape of Good Hope, adding weeks to delivery times.
William Zwijdema, Global Director of Supply Chain Safety at the organization, said that around 90 clinics run by the Sudanese government, serving approximately 400,000 patients, rely on the organization’s supplies of medicines and vaccines, with no viable domestic alternatives.
The World Health Organization has warned of increasing shortages of medical supplies in Sudan. Regional Director Hanan Balkhy stated that Sudan is facing a major crisis, alongside an even greater shortage of medical tools reaching certain areas.
