https://venezuelanalysis.com/columns/innovation-in-times-of-blockade/
This article gives some examples of the effect of the US blockade on Venezuela's health system, and some of the attempts to solve the problems. *** One of the most serious cases was the shortage of tungsten filaments that were acquired in 2019 to service microscopes. However, Thermo Fisher Scientific, in spite of having signed a contract, simply refused to ship the parts after having forced several officials to sign documents pledging not to use them for “bioterrorism” purposes. This field was so devastated that in September 2022, UN Special Rapporteur Alena Douhan<https://venezuelanalysis.com/interviews/on-unilateral-coercive-measures-part-i-a-conversation-with-alena-douhan/> denounced<https://venezuelanalysis.com/news/15604/> how the restrictions on spare part imports severely hampered the diagnostic equipment in use, which hurt the most fundamental human rights. For thousands of people, these delays are the difference between life and death. The estimate is that 40,000 people died between 2017 and 2018 as a result of these criminal coercive measures. The Venezuelan state was no longer able to continue with the (free) treatment of 80,000 HIV patients, 16,000 cancer patients and more than 4 million suffering from diabetes and hypertension. There was no way to secure insulin and heart medicines. Simultaneously, there was also a brain drain, both through the dire economic<https://venezuelanalysis.com/columns/tales-of-resistance-economic-indicators-and-appropriate-yardsticks/> conditions and an overwhelming propaganda campaign. The result was most research projects grinding to a halt, a situation that is now changing little by little. That’s why some of these stories fill me with hope as I see people who are deeply committed, pushing forward even with little funding for research. A couple of years ago, amidst the pandemic, mixed teams of scientists and technicians managed to reactivate hundreds of key machines, especially incubators<https://observatorio.gob.ve/investigadoras-venezolanas-recuperan-422-incubadoras-neonatales-a-traves-del-plan-cayapa-heroica/>, that were out of service waiting for imports that never arrived. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Groups.io Links: You receive all messages sent to this group. View/Reply Online (#29758): https://groups.io/g/marxmail/message/29758 Mute This Topic: https://groups.io/mt/105253989/21656 -=-=- POSTING RULES & NOTES #1 YOU MUST clip all extraneous text when replying to a message. #2 This mail-list, like most, is publicly & permanently archived. #3 Subscribe and post under an alias if #2 is a concern. #4 Do not exceed five posts a day. -=-=- Group Owner: [email protected] Unsubscribe: https://groups.io/g/marxmail/leave/8674936/21656/1316126222/xyzzy [[email protected]] -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
