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Friday, 09 October 2020_The death toll from COVID-19 in European care homes is described as a scandal by EU lawmakers. As the 27-nation bloc endures a second wave of the pandemic, concern surrounds a shortage of medicines.
Official data shows that most of the deaths resulting from COVID-19 in the EU have happened in care homes for the elderly. As daily infections rise sharply in several of the bloc's countries, including France, Spain, Netherlands, Italy, Poland, Belgium, Romania and Ireland, legislators insist those working in nursing homes must be looked after this time.
Alarm bells are sounding as EU countries run low on Remdesivir, the most effective antiviral used on COVID patients requiring oxygen. There are shortages in Netherlands, Greece, Austria, Denmark, Czech Republic, and Slovenia. The European Commission says it has just signed a new contract with Gilead, the US firm that makes the drug.
It is one thing ordering the treatment but when will it arrive? Remdesivir is under patent, which means no other pharmaceutical firm can produce it. Back in June, Donald Trump's administration bought up all available supplies for a three month period. There is concern he will do the same again as the pandemic remains out of control in America.
In the European Parliament, EU nations and the international community have been urged to work together to defeat the coronavirus.
Lawmakers are pointing out that US and EU foreign policy, particularly when it comes to sanctions, is having a devastating impact with respect to the efforts of health authorities around the world to tackle COVID-19.
They say, badly impacted places include Iran, Venezuela, Syria, Yemen and Palestinian territories.
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