Climate change and medicines: extreme events could put access to treatment at risk

Published 2026-11-09

Climate change affects not only the environment and the economy, but can also have effects on health and medicines. An article published by Mondosanità analyses how extreme weather events, such as floods, heatwaves and droughts, can change the availability of medicines. Even a disaster that occurs far from our country can have consequences for the treatments we use every day.

According to the authors, one of the main problems concerns production and distribution. Many medicines are manufactured in different areas of the world and then transported through complex supply chains. If a factory is damaged by a flood, or if roads and ports are blocked, the delivery of products may slow down or stop. This can create shortages and difficulties for patients who need continuous therapies.

Another important aspect is the storage of medicines. Many products require controlled temperatures, and a sudden increase in heat or a failure of refrigeration systems can alter them. This affects their safety and their effectiveness. Experts therefore stress the need for more resilient storage systems and more careful checks during transport.

In conclusion, the article calls for public health to be considered as part of climate change adaptation strategies. Protecting access to care means not only improving the production and logistics of medicines, but also preparing health systems to respond quickly in emergencies. The issue therefore concerns both health authorities and citizens, who could face new difficulties in obtaining certain medicines.

Sources: Mondosanità

More Italy news

All Italy news · News by country