“In the UK, two main treatment options exist: permethrin and malathion. A combination of supply chain problems, the war in Ukraine and a rise in the cost of raw materials has resulted in months-long shortages of both.” – Doctors report ‘nightmare’ surge in scabies across UK by Andrew Gregory Health editor The Guardian (January 1st, 2024)
I did not know this, but Scabies is highly contagious and, if not treated rapidly, can lead to a significant outbreak. While it may not inspire the same fear as COVID-19, it can, according to the World Health Organization, lead to severe complications like septicemia, heart disease, and kidney problems. The fact that dermatologists describe the outbreaks “in care homes and nursing homes” as an “absolute nightmare” is especially troubling since the residents of these facilities are especially vulnerable to complications that could lead to death because of their advanced age and pre-existing conditions.
So, why am I sharing this health news with you in a procurement blog?
At The Center of The Storm
“In the UK, two main treatment options exist: permethrin and malathion. A combination of supply chain problems, the war in Ukraine, and a rise in the cost of raw materials has resulted in months-long shortages of both.”
It is fair to say that no one expected a global pandemic in early 2020. It would even be fair to suggest that a scabies outbreak in the UK in 2024 was unexpected. Even though the latter situation is somewhat localized and not necessarily as lethal, the shortage of needed medicines does raise a troubling question: How reliable and resilient are our healthcare-related supply chains overall?
Over the coming weeks, I will follow this story and attempt to find an answer to the above question.
In the meantime, what do you think?
30
Procurement Insights
UK “nightmare” situation poses a major public health threat – have we learned nothing from the pandemic?
Posted on January 2, 2024
0
“In the UK, two main treatment options exist: permethrin and malathion. A combination of supply chain problems, the war in Ukraine and a rise in the cost of raw materials has resulted in months-long shortages of both.” – Doctors report ‘nightmare’ surge in scabies across UK by Andrew Gregory Health editor The Guardian (January 1st, 2024)
I did not know this, but Scabies is highly contagious and, if not treated rapidly, can lead to a significant outbreak. While it may not inspire the same fear as COVID-19, it can, according to the World Health Organization, lead to severe complications like septicemia, heart disease, and kidney problems. The fact that dermatologists describe the outbreaks “in care homes and nursing homes” as an “absolute nightmare” is especially troubling since the residents of these facilities are especially vulnerable to complications that could lead to death because of their advanced age and pre-existing conditions.
So, why am I sharing this health news with you in a procurement blog?
At The Center of The Storm
“In the UK, two main treatment options exist: permethrin and malathion. A combination of supply chain problems, the war in Ukraine, and a rise in the cost of raw materials has resulted in months-long shortages of both.”
It is fair to say that no one expected a global pandemic in early 2020. It would even be fair to suggest that a scabies outbreak in the UK in 2024 was unexpected. Even though the latter situation is somewhat localized and not necessarily as lethal, the shortage of needed medicines does raise a troubling question: How reliable and resilient are our healthcare-related supply chains overall?
Over the coming weeks, I will follow this story and attempt to find an answer to the above question.
In the meantime, what do you think?
30
Share this:
Related