The escalating conflict between Iran and the Israel-US alliance is now casting a dark shadow over India’s healthcare sector. Dr. MS Purkait, Medical Superintendent of Techno India DAMA Hospital, has warned that the geopolitical turmoil in West Asia will severely disrupt the global medical supply chain, directly impacting Kolkata’s healthcare accessibility and affordability.

Kolkata, a preferred destination for medical tourism, is facing multiple challenges: rising treatment costs, shortage of advanced medical equipment, and a decline in international patient footfall. Essential items like syringes, IV bags, and catheters—dependent on petrochemical raw materials from the conflict region—are seeing supply bottlenecks. This has led to increased procurement costs for hospitals, which will ultimately trickle down to patients.

The fuel crisis triggered by the war has already caused an 18% spike in ambulance operational costs. With hospitals relying heavily on fuel for backup generators to run ICUs and Operation Theaters, the operational strain is immense. Dr. Purkait emphasized the need for healthcare providers to strengthen inventory planning and diversify supply sources to mitigate these rising risks.