Lack of masks and respirators puts Spanish hospitals under strain.
Lack of masks and respirators puts Spanish hospitals under strain.
"In hospitals with a large volume of patients we are close to shortages." Says a department head of a large Madrid hospital, who asks for anonymity. In the centers, personal protective equipment (PPE) begins to be rationed with the expectation that masks, gloves and gowns can be finished in a matter of days. "Respirators are a problem too," says this source. The intensive care units (ICU) are preparing to be overwhelmed and having to spread to other areas of the hospital where there are beds but no respirators to treat patients affected by coronavirus, which when compounded can not breathe on their own. "It is a problem in Madrid, Spain and the rest of the world: there is a lack of stock," he adds.
It is not a question of money or lack of will. There is no one to buy from. It is no longer the hospitals or the communities that are trying to get supplies: it is being managed directly by the Ministry of Health through Ingesa, the public institute that manages the health provision in Ceuta and Melilla and is also in charge of buying medicines and health products from centralized form. In the face of pressure from the communities —Madrid wrote a letter to Salvador Illa alerting of the “very serious” situation of lack of material— Health started this Wednesday the distribution of 410,000 masks, 310,000 of them for the Community of Madrid, and announced that there are other 500,000 on the way. Sources from the Ministry of Health assure that "there will be no shortage because all the necessary purchases will be made."
One of the largest distributors of material ensures that they have been talking to the ministry for days to find solutions. "We have been asked to leave the industry aside and we have done so," says a source from the company. Refers to protective equipment used in chemical or automobile plants, for example. Health has asked that the entire stock be diverted to health. For this, the experts who are coordinating the crisis analyze how to convert these PPE into medical devices so that they pass the occupational health controls and can be used in hospitals. According to the sources consulted, it has also been considered to redistribute protective equipment from the least affected areas to the most affected.
Fernando Simón , director of the Center for Coordination of Health Alerts and Emergencies, warned on Wednesday that "the risk of shortages could be imminent in the next two or three days." He added that shipments to the communities "will solve the problem over a period of time, a few days, a week or 15 days," but that we must continue looking for material. "Globally, production is limited and all countries are sourcing," he said.
Brussels has had to give a touch of attention to European partners such as Germany and France, which announced a few days ago that they prohibited the export of medical devices. There it produces, for example, Dräger, one of the three main manufacturers of respirators used in Spanish hospitals, together with Philips and Hamilton. Neither of these two companies wanted to comment on the situation. One of them referred to the health technology association, Fenin, who refused to attend EL PAÍS. A Dräger spokesman noted: "Spain is experiencing a medical emergency situation and the demand for this type of equipment by hospitals has increased, not surprisingly." His company is "making an extra effort, both material and human, to make its technology available to patients in the shortest possible time."
As the affected communities themselves have warned, the areas of greatest demand are currently the Community of Madrid, the Basque Country and La Rioja, indicates the company spokesperson, because they are the areas with the most cases of coronavirus being diagnosed. "The situation is being analyzed daily to be able to provide equipment to our country in the shortest possible time," said Simon.
German authorities indicated a week ago that exceptions to the no-export order would only be possible under strict conditions and in the context of "concerted international relief efforts." But on Tuesday the German Minister of Health, Jens Spahn, clarified and indicated that export restrictions "do not mean that sales abroad are not possible." Spahn explained that it is to avoid that the one who offers with more money collects the sanitary material. “Of course we want to help our European neighbors and our partners with supplies. We are prepared to implement a procedure at the end of the week, which will allow us to make decisions so that the trucks reach their destination, ”said the Minister of Health in a joint appearance with Chancellor Merkel.
Between one appearance and another is the anger of Brussels and diplomatic friction with its neighboring Switzerland, a country that depends largely on German supplies, according to the Neuen Zürcher Zeitung. The European Council summit on Tuesday instructed the Commission to pay particular attention to respect for internal market rules. A way to add a touch to Germany and France due to the restrictions they have imposed on the sale of masks and respirators.
Italy, the European country that is having the worst time (with almost 12,500 positives and more than 800 deaths), has asked to activate the civil protection mechanism of the European Union to obtain a supply of protective equipment. His government does not hide criticism of Brussels. "Unfortunately, no European country has responded to the Commission's call," complains the Italian representative in the European Union, Maurizio Massari, in a letter published on the Politico website . "Only China has responded bilaterally. It is certainly not a good sign of European solidarity, "he adds:" Today is Italy, tomorrow it may be anyone else who needs help. "
China has offered to sell Italy 1,000 respirators, two million masks, 20,000 protective suits and 50,000 swabs to test for the coronavirus. Spain could also ask China for help, judging by what Simon said: “We know that all the increase in production of protective equipment that was made in China is no longer necessary there and will probably be available in the next few days for the rest of the world". The spokesman added that with "exaggerated demand from all countries", Spain will have to "carefully manage the part that falls to us."
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