Mauritius Faces Medicine Shortages and Rising Drug Prices

Mauritius is grappling with a dual crisis in its pharmaceutical sector: recurring shortages of essential medicines and a steady rise in drug prices that is hitting consumers hard. The issue has moved to the centre of public debate, with patients, pharmacists, and health advocates calling for urgent action. **What is happening?** Pharmacies across the island have been reporting stock-outs — situations where specific medicines are simply unavailable, sometimes for extended periods. At the same time, the cost of many drugs, particularly those not covered by the government's free medication programme, has been climbing, putting pressure on households already dealing with a broader cost-of-living squeeze. The problem affects both prescription medications and common over-the-counter products, leaving patients to either go without, seek expensive alternatives, or travel between pharmacies hoping to find what they need. **Why are medicines running short?** Several factors contribute to the shortages. Mauritius imports the vast majority of its pharmaceutical products, making it highly dependent on global supply chains that have remained fragile since the Covid-19 pandemic. Currency fluctuations — particularly the depreciation of the Mauritian rupee against the euro and US dollar — have made imports more expensive and, in some cases, less commercially attractive for local distributors to stock. Regulatory and procurement delays can also hold up the entry of certain medicines into the local market, further widening gaps on pharmacy shelves. **Who is affected?** While the government provides a range of free medicines through public health facilities such as hospitals and community health centres managed by the Ministry of Health and Wellness, this programme does not cover every drug a patient may need. Those with chronic conditions — diabetes, hypertension, or respiratory illnesses — who rely on specific branded or specialist medications are among the most vulnerable when shortages strike. Lower-income households feel the price increases most acutely, as substituting for an unavailable medicine often means paying significantly more for an alternative. **What this means** For ordinary Mauritians, this is not an abstract policy debate — it translates directly into stress at the pharmacy counter and difficult choices about whether to spend on medication or other essentials. For the government, it signals a need to review procurement strategies, consider building strategic medicine reserves, and potentially revisit the pricing framework that governs pharmaceutical imports and retail margins. Health advocates argue that greater transparency in the supply chain, stronger relationships with a diversified range of international suppliers, and faster regulatory processing could all help reduce the frequency and severity of shortages. The debate is also shining a light on the broader question of healthcare affordability in Mauritius — a country that prides itself on universal free healthcare but where out-of-pocket costs for medicines remain a genuine burden for many families. Source: Le Defi Media