MLH UMC President Calls for Urgent Measures

MLH UMC President Calls for Urgent Measures Life Saving Medication shortage jeopardizes performing advanced medical procedures and Patient safety

We are facing today a shortage of Heparin, a medicine used to prevent blood clots that occur in complicated medical conditions or during certain medical procedures. The price of Heparin is a mere LBP 11,500 LBP, today equivalent to USD 0.52, Its shortage now prevents the possibility of performing medical procedures such as open-heart surgery and threatens continuity of care for chronic renal failure dialysis patients.

Multiple contacts were done today to secure only few doses of Heparin, barely covering a couple of open-heart surgeries for next week. We are facing the same issue with Adrenalin, a life saving medication used in Cardiac arrest and resuscitation.

Everything today, from medicine, to Maintenance (equipment and licenses) to medical supplies is billed in USD at black market i.e. 15 times the prices of 2019. I raise my voice to say that a large number of patients are dying, as they cannot find medication; people in their homes are unable to come to hospitals or pay for hospitalization, medication and other fees…

The cost of Healthcare has become an unbearable burden on both hospitals and patients. The dire situation we have reached calls for the attention of the highest ranks of officials in the government in the fastest delays.