PharmaceuticalSupplyChain – Senators Seek Answers on Drug Security Risks
PharmaceuticalSupplyChain – Two senior members of the United States Senate have formally asked the Department of Defense for detailed information about potential weaknesses in the nation’s pharmaceutical supply chain, cautioning that dependence on overseas manufacturing could pose risks to national security and military readiness.
In a letter addressed to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Senator Rick Scott, chairman of the Senate Special Committee on Aging, and the panel’s ranking member, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, outlined concerns about the sourcing of critical drug components from abroad, particularly from China and India.
Concerns Over Foreign Dependence
The senators noted that the United States relies heavily on foreign producers for key starting materials, active pharmaceutical ingredients, and generic medications. They warned that limited domestic control over these foundational components leaves the healthcare system — including services provided to military personnel and veterans — exposed to disruption.
According to the lawmakers, the Defense Department bears primary responsibility for safeguarding the health and operational readiness of active-duty troops, reservists, veterans, retirees, and their families. Ensuring uninterrupted access to essential medicines, they said, is central to that mission.
Generic drugs account for roughly 91 percent of all prescriptions filled annually in the United States. The senators emphasized that these lower-cost medicines are vital for managing chronic illnesses, treating infections, and supporting recovery from injury or disease across both civilian and military populations.
Role of China and India in Drug Manufacturing
China and India play a significant part in producing the raw materials and active ingredients used in American drug manufacturing. While both countries are major contributors to global pharmaceutical supply, the senators argued that heavy reliance on overseas facilities — combined with limited direct oversight — introduces vulnerabilities into the system.
They pointed to reports indicating that the Food and Drug Administration has, in certain instances, allowed imports from foreign plants that were previously subject to regulatory restrictions due to quality concerns. Since 2013, more than 150 medications or ingredients have reportedly received exemptions from import bans, many tied to facilities in China and India.
The lawmakers expressed concern that such exemptions could allow medicines produced under substandard conditions to reach U.S. patients, potentially affecting safety and reliability.
Geopolitical Risks and Export Controls
Beyond manufacturing standards, the senators highlighted geopolitical tensions as an additional factor. Although Washington and Beijing reached a bilateral agreement concerning rare earth materials in April 2025, China later introduced new export controls in October of the same year.
They cautioned that similar restrictions could, in theory, be applied to pharmaceutical exports during future trade disputes or diplomatic conflicts. Any abrupt interruption in shipments of critical drugs or ingredients, they wrote, could disrupt patient care and strain public health systems.
Call for Domestic Production and Transparency
To mitigate these risks, the senators urged the Defense Department to prioritize procurement of medicines manufactured within the United States. They argued that reliance on foreign suppliers for essential drugs — particularly antibiotics — could undermine the military’s operational capabilities during times of crisis.
In addition, they called for clearer labeling standards that would disclose the country of origin for finished pharmaceuticals and active ingredients. Greater transparency, they said, would help healthcare providers within the TRICARE system, including physicians and pharmacists, make informed purchasing decisions. It would also give patients better insight into where their medications are produced.
Request for Detailed Briefing
The letter asks the Defense Department to provide a comprehensive briefing by February 28. Among the requested details are current drug acquisition strategies, contingency plans in the event of halted exports from China, inventory reserves, and exposure to manufacturers that have received FDA exemptions.
The senators also requested updates on compliance with supply chain mapping requirements outlined in the fiscal year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act, as well as safeguards to prevent sourcing from sensitive regions such as China’s Xinjiang area.
For India, one of the world’s leading exporters of generic medicines and pharmaceutical ingredients, the discussion in Washington reflects a broader shift toward reshoring critical manufacturing. In recent years, successive U.S. administrations have increasingly treated supply chain resilience — spanning industries from semiconductors to pharmaceuticals — as a cornerstone of economic stability and national security planning.