SWITZERLAND: WHO says Syrian hospitals closed, dire shortage of medicine.

Record ID: 281286

  • Title: SWITZERLAND: WHO says Syrian hospitals closed, dire shortage of medicine.
  • Date: 7th August 2012
  • Summary: GENEVA, SWITZERLAND (AUGUST 7, 2012) (REUTERS) UNITED NATIONS FLAG JOURNALISTS INSIDE NEWS BRIEFING ROOM (SOUNDBITE) (English) WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION SPOKESPERSON, TARIK JASAREVIC, SAYING: "What it has been reported to the World Health Organization by health providers is that the most urgently needed medicines includes drugs for tuberculosis, hepatitis, hypertension, d
  • Embargoed: 22nd August 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Switzerland
  • Country: Switzerland
  • Topics: War / Fighting,Health,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAD4XUMH5LU4LA68A35QWZAKF0Z
  • Story Text: Syria faces severe shortage of medicine, while many hospitals are closed due to violence, the World Health Organisation says.
    Syrian hospitals face a severe shortage of medicine and pharmaceutical products, threatening the lives of Syrians with chronic diseases and victims of the ongoing fighting, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday (August 7) in Geneva.

    "What it has been reported to the World Health Organization by health providers is that the most urgently needed medicines includes drugs for tuberculosis, hepatitis, hypertension, diabetes, cancer as well as equipment for kidney diseases and haemodialysis. There is also an urgent need for chemical reagents, for blood screening test to ensure the safety and the quality of blood used in surgical and trauma cases," WHO spokesperson Tarik Jasarevic told reporters at a regular news briefing.
    Jasarevic said that 90 percent of Syria's medicine was being produced inside the country before the crisis broke out and that many medical plants, mostly centered around rural Aleppo, Damascus and Homs, have now closed down.
    He also said, that though some hospitals were still running, reaching them was increasingly difficult for people in need.

    "Many hospitals and health centres have been closed, damaged or controlled by one of the parties to the conflict. Often these health facilities that are still open are inaccessible due to ongoing violence and lack of public transportation. There are not even, because of the increased cost of fuel, even taxis are not running, and lots of people simply can't go to hospitals even if those hospitals are open," Jasarevic said.

    "The impact of this situation, of course, is devastating for people who need drugs on a daily basis, people with chronic conditions, people with mental health situations, and also for people who are on antibiotics to prevent infections when being treated for conflict-related injuries," Tarik Jasarevic told reporters.
    Aleppo and Damascus are currently the centres of fighting between rebels and troops loyal to President Bashar al-Assad.
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