Ukraine crisis may cause global healthcare shortages: IHH Healthcare

The conflict sparked huge volatility across global commodity markets.

Private hospital operator IHH Healthcare is concerned the Ukraine crisis may worsen global shortages, even though its main business is unlikely to suffer disruption because of the conflict.

"There are some concerns on supply chain disruptions for us in terms of cost," Managing director and CEO Kelvin Loh told Bloomberg TV on Friday. "But overall, I see our business being resilient through this time."

The group's diversified earnings base would provide resilience as its main markets are in different phases of the pandemic, Loh said. IHH expects its operations to return to normal this year as patient volumes are expected to increase with the reopening of international borders at countries it operates in despite omicron cases.

Russia's attack on Ukraine sparked huge volatility across global commodity markets, sparking fears the crisis will exacerbate global supply chains already stretched thin by the pandemic. Acibadem, IHH's unit in Turkey, has patient offices in countries including Russia and Ukraine, according to the company’s website.