Rethinking Pharmaceutical Resilience in the Interdependent Asia-Pacific

This paper examines how interdependent Asia-Pacific economies can strengthen pharmaceutical supply chain resilience in the aftermath of COVID-19, arguing that prevailing policy approaches centered on domestic self-sufficiency are insufficient. Drawing on a mixed-methods approach combining extensive literature review and 40 semi-structured interviews with policymakers, industry leaders, and experts across the region, the study analyzes three case studies—Taiwan, Indonesia, and Lao PDR—to capture varying levels of institutional capacity and industrial development. The findings reveal a narrative shift toward “autarkic security,” emphasizing domestic manufacturing and health sovereignty, despite persistent structural vulnerabilities such as import dependence, market size constraints, limited fiscal capacity and regulatory bottlenecks. The paper argues that true resilience requires a transition toward “strategic interdependence,” leveraging regional cooperation to complement domestic efforts and proposes the launch of an Asia-Pacific Pharmaceutical Resilience Fund towards eventual establishment of a Southeast Asian Medicines Agency.