PRIORITIES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF MEDICINAL PLANT GROWING IN A POST-PANDEMIC ENVIRONMENT

Abstract

The year 2020 was heavily influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic in all areas of human and social life. Today, it is difficult to imagine sectors of the economy that would not be affected by the pandemic, but the pharmaceutical industry and pharmaceutical companies are facing serious challenges. On the one hand, the pharmaceutical industry is forced to function in restrictions, like any other type of business in a pandemic, and on the other hand, it is forced to ensure uninterrupted production and supply of medicines, quickly increase their production, and strategically plan its activities in the post-pandemic world. All phases of pharmaceutical companies are affected by the pandemic, from the production and procurement of raw materials to research and development and doctor-patient interaction processes. The pharmaceutical industry, along with the health care system, has been at the epicenter of the global fight against the pandemic and its aftermath. In addition to new opportunities for the pharmaceutical industry in the fight against COVID-19, such as vaccine development and clinical trials of medical drugs to treat COVID-19, the pandemic has harmed the supply chain and production of herbal medicinal raw materials. The global pharmaceutical industry has faced the consequences of the closure of China’s customs borders for quarantine, as China is currently the leader in the production of medicinal pharmaceutical raw materials, accounting for about 40% of the world’s production of medicinal plant pharmaceutical raw materials. China has gained a leading position in the pharmaceutical raw materials industry due to its high production volume and low cost. Closed borders and quarantine-induced lockdown predetermined serious threats in the supply chain for the needs of pharmaceutical production, which was automatically reflected in rising logistics and freight prices. The presented study reviews the current state of the pharmaceutical herbal medicine industry and justifies the priorities of its development in post-pandemic conditions.