6 minutes agoGermany fills 19 stores with medical materials in case it is hit by other pandemics
Periskopi(6 years ago)
(6 years ago)The government in Germany will be prepared for future pandemics and aims at creating 19 warehouses with medical materials. Experts and politicians require attention to quality. In case of pandemic, let us no longer miss such a thing as the beginning of this pandemic! German Health Minister Jens Spahn has declared this goal. [...]
The government in Germany will be prepared for future pandemics and aims at creating 19 warehouses with medical materials. Experts and politicians require attention to quality.
In case of pandemic, let us no longer miss such a thing as the beginning of this pandemic! German Health Minister Jens Spahn has declared this goal. When the pandemic began in the spring, it was pointed out that in Germany there was a lack of protection for infections and medical treatment because the plow did not have enough masks, protective clothing, and respiratory equipment. These were missing from clinics, hospitals, and nursing homes. A few weeks were even missing simple protective masks, which were difficult to find online offering at large prices. Then the government decided to buy masks. Soon the shortages were compensated. However, the government now aims to be better prepared for the future with reservations of this kind.
So the government cabinet decided this week, that by the end of next year, a state reserve will be established. At first, masks will be stored. Then supplies of medical products will be deposited in the country. The reserves should cover the need for a month. In this way we in case of emergency support mainly those who work in hospitals, nursing homes and private clinics. A good health care should not fail for material shortages”, Minister Spahn said.
Such discussions for 19 years
It has been set up as early as June to create a structure of the „National Reserve for the Protection of Health”. But so far, not much has been done in this direction, as stated in a request for explanation submitted by the opposition Liberal Democratic Party's parliamentary group “Discriptions on the way and volume of the materials for the future reserve are continuing, while the issue is still open about the costs of management and obtaining these materials” is highlighted in the government's response to the FDP's request.
The expert on protection from ecologist party infections, Cordula Schulz-Asche, welcomes the government's initiative but brings to the attention, which for many years has been a debate on the creation of such an emergency reserve, even since the beginning of the century with the outbreak of the Sars pandemic. “19 years have passed since then, so now time does not wait, these plans must be put into existence”, DW Schwarz-Asche told.
It further underlines that now „that the warehouses are filled by Health Minister Spahn is easy to decide on the creation of a strategic reserve””. But according to Schulz-Asche it matters, to pay attention to quality: „must determine parameters, what kind of risk or financial crisis these materials will be appropriate. Right now we're in the waves of the Corona pandemic. But do masks also protect you from other pandemics, such as pandemics? Ebola? Or is it the creation of this suitable reserve that is used only during the flu, or is it during the Corona pandemic? According to Schulz-Asche of the Minister Spahn's plans is still not seen any transparency.
“
The quality of the material, which is to be deposited, is important, as do experts from the organisation of doctors “Marburger Bund”. spokesman Hans-Jörg Freese told DW, that not all masks are appropriate to long-term preservation. „We know long ago, that in such large quantities not all masks are effective against viruses.” There are also special masks for artisans, for example, to protect from tiny particles in the atmosphere but in fact, no protection from the virus. However, creating a reserve is necessary: „Better late than ever, this plan must be realised for a long time. We in the spring saw what happens if you're not well prepared. ”
19 Centers Around the Country
The plans have already been concreteized: In 19 scattered centers around the country, medical materials will be deposited among them in Hamburg, Dortmund Hall, and Augsburg. Federal reserves will be created after existing materials have been consumed in hospitals, private clinics, or nursing homes. In the government's plan, it is predicted that „Reservat should be maintained even further in medical institutions and in the Lande. Using federation reserves is an overload solution.” Policy and experts generally greet the creation of this structure in decentralised form.
The State Reserve Has Had It Before
Especially in the western part of Berlin, there have been similar reserves in times already overcome: Following the Berlin blockade in 1948 and 1949, the three commands of the city of West Berlin authorized the city Senate to store basic food, medicine, coal, fuel, and other necessary items in case of emergency. Half a year these goods had to be saved to ensure a life free of disturbance for up to six months, in case the city could be surrounded again. Millions of tons of goods were stored in over 700 warehouses scattered throughout the city, which few knew about. These deposits cost about 1.8 billion euros. After the fall of the Berlin Wall and the end of the GDR the reserves were dissolved several decades after creation. The now planned reserve for medical products should be part of the European reserve, which Berlin and Paris agreed on in May of this year. One billion euros will cost Germany this state reserve, which will guarantee better preparation for coping with any possible pandemics.
