Geneva - Demand for masks, gowns, gloves
and other protective gear has risen up to 100-fold and prices
have soared due to the China coronavirus, producing a "severe"
disruption in global supply, the World Health Organization (WHO)
chief said on Friday.
The situation has been made worse by people who are not
medical workers buying the protective gear for their own use,
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.
"When supplies are short and demand is high, then there
could be bad practices like hoarding in order to sell them at
higher prices, and that's why we ask for solidarity," Tedros
told a Geneva briefing.
"Demand is up to 100 times higher than normal and prices are
up to 20 times higher," and the rush has created supply backlogs
of 4-6 months, he added.
Frontline health workers in China, where 31,211 confirmed
cases of coronavirus have been reported, need the bulk of such
supplies, he said.
Tedros said he had spoken to manufacturers and distributors
to ensure supplies for those who need them most, with healthcare
workers a priority, followed by the sick and those caring for
them.
The WHO has sent major shipments of gloves, masks,
respirators and other "personal protective equipment" - known as
PPE in its jargon - to every region, he said.
"We call on countries and companies to work with WHO to
ensure fair and rational use of supplies and the re-balancing of
the market. We all have a part to play in keeping each other
safe," Tedros said.
The public and private network was focusing first on
surgical masks because of the extreme demand and market
pressures, Tedros said, adding: "We are appreciative of
companies who have taken the decision to only supply masks to
medical professionals."
Dr. Mike Ryan, WHO's top emergencies expert, said that the
supply chain started with producers of raw materials, going "all
the way back to the rubber plantation, all the way down the
chain to that health worker, and everything in between".
"At every stage of the supply chain there is a possibility
for disruption, or profiteering or diversion," he said.
Chinese authorities have provided some detailed data with a
breakdown of 17,000 cases, WHO epidemiologist Dr. Maria van
Kerkhove said. "We have some data on 17,000 cases saying 82% are
considered mild, 15% severe and 3% critical."
Referring to overall numbers, she added: "We know that 2
pct, or less than 2 pct now, of the reported cases have died."