Sanae Takaichi said Thursday that Japan will distribute 50 million medical gloves starting in May to healthcare facilities facing shortages, as the country responds to supply disruptions caused by the Middle East conflict.
Takaichi announced the measure during a government meeting, saying the gloves will come from Japan’s pandemic stockpile of about 500 million units.
The shortage stems from disruptions in oil-related supplies following the outbreak of the US-Israel war on February 28. The conflict has affected the availability of naphtha, a petroleum product used in manufacturing plastics, rubber, and medical equipment.
The situation worsened after Iran effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, a key route that previously handled about one-fifth of global crude oil and liquefied natural gas shipments.
Japan, which relies heavily on Middle Eastern oil, has tapped its reserves to reduce the impact on its economy. Officials said supply constraints have begun to affect medical institutions, with physicians reporting shortages of essential items such as gloves.
On Wednesday, Takaichi also announced a $10 billion assistance package for Southeast Asian countries to help strengthen energy supply chains and secure access to crude oil and petroleum products.
The prime minister said Japan depends on regional supply networks, including imports of medical gloves used in healthcare procedures.
