Corona and the serious lack of hospital respirators even in first world countries

Once people get hospitalized from a serious Coronavirus infection, they treat them using hospital respirators. In a first world country like Norway, we have less than 1,200 respirators for the whole population of about 5 million people. This serious lack hospital equipment of means that even a first world country like Norway could only handle a situation where 0.025% of their population - or about 250 people per 1 million - is being treated for serious corona infection at the same time.

What does all this really mean? When it comes to Norway, we have almost 1,000 coronavirus infected people as of today, of which 20% will statistically likely become seriously ill (if they not already are), that's 200 people - so Norway is already at this early stage at 1/4 of it's coronoavirus treatment capasity.

- We expect to have 250 intensive care units, and 550 monitoring units in Norway. This is the basis for the respiratory therapy we have. If we go beyond that, it is very difficult to point out areas in the hospitals that are suitable. For you need conditions such as gas supply, electricity, ICT and ventilation, says Flaatten.

Flaatten emphasizes that there is a difference between the respirators used for intensive care and the monitoring units.

- Another thing is that one must have a respirator for a patient to call it respiratory therapy. Then we had to have 1200 respirators, and we do not have that in Norway today. How many we have, we are investigating, but it is significantly less.

Source: Translated article

A worrying situation, I would have expected the worlds national health administration to have been more prepared, espesially because of early warnings like SARS and Bird Flu just some decades ago - was it not to be expected that some kind of serious influenca rear its ugly head at some point? I blame the WHO for this scandal, next the national preparedness and governments.

How many hospital respirators does your contry or state have?

-MM

originally posted by: MerkabaMeditation
Once people get hospitalized from a serious Coronavirus infection, they treat them using hospital respirators. In a first world country like Norway, we have less than 1,200 respirators for the whole population of about 5 million people.

Er, it's because in normal circumstances Norway does not need more. Nor is it appropriate for countries to overstock medical supplies "just in case".

It's the path fools take when all they do is complain during unpredictable crisis about the "should have done" and "with hindsight" and al that.

originally posted by: paraphi

originally posted by: MerkabaMeditation
Once people get hospitalized from a serious Coronavirus infection, they treat them using hospital respirators. In a first world country like Norway, we have less than 1,200 respirators for the whole population of about 5 million people.

Er, it's because in normal circumstances Norway does not need more. Nor is it appropriate for countries to overstock medical supplies "just in case".

The Norwegian Prime Minister herself said in an interview that they are preparing for the scenario where 25% of the population is infected with Coronavirus, 20% of these will be hospitalized according to the available worldwide statistics, that means that 250,000 norwegians will at some point need to be treated using a hospital respirator. It is not likely that all these 250,000 people will get seriously sick at the same time, but it is obvious that 1,200 respirators is not enough.

originally posted by: paraphi
It's the path fools take when all they do is complain during unpredictable crisis about the "should have done" and "with hindsight" and al that.

I disagree, if organizations like the WHO and other health administrators are not preparing us for impending epidemics & pandemics then they have failed in their mission to protect the general public.

-MM

Italian doctors report on not having enough equipment to treat everyone, this worldwide scandal because of WHO and health administrators unpreparedness has just begun - I predict that we will see these kinds of desperate cries from doctors & nurses worldwide.

Today, Italy has 10,149 cases of the coronavirus. There are now simply too many patients for each one of them to receive adequate care. Doctors and nurses are unable to tend to everybody. They lack machines to ventilate all those gasping for air.

Source #1: The Atlantic
Source #2: New York Times

-MM

originally posted by: paraphi

originally posted by: MerkabaMeditation
Once people get hospitalized from a serious Coronavirus infection, they treat them using hospital respirators. In a first world country like Norway, we have less than 1,200 respirators for the whole population of about 5 million people.

Er, it's because in normal circumstances Norway does not need more. Nor is it appropriate for countries to overstock medical supplies "just in case".

It's the path fools take when all they do is complain during unpredictable crisis about the "should have done" and "with hindsight" and al that.

Good post.

Governments haven’t failed us folks. You don’t make a hospital bed and every single medical device possible for every member of your population.

Think about it. Most people under 50 rarely go to the hospital unless they’re injured (sports, accidents, car wrecks, etc.).

Are we “underprepared” - yes. Should we have been “more prepared”? Not really.

originally posted by: MerkabaMeditation
Italian doctors report on not having enough equipment to treat everyone, this worldwide scandal because of WHO and health administrators unpreparedness has just begun - I predict that we will see these kinds of desperate cries from doctors & nurses worldwide.

Today, Italy has 10,149 cases of the coronavirus. There are now simply too many patients for each one of them to receive adequate care. Doctors and nurses are unable to tend to everybody. They lack machines to ventilate all those gasping for air.

Source #1: The Atlantic
Source #2: New York Times

-MM

Not a scandal.

The ventilator situation is more serious, but it’s really no different than the TP shortage. Massive surge in demand - that’s it.

Good news, out of something like this will come new tech that’s cheaper and mass produced - ventilators, masks, etc.

The doctors concerns are legitimate but it’s not because some nefarious invisible hand ensured we don’t have ventilators to help people.

a reply to: MerkabaMeditation

I'm not sure what the WHO have to do with individual nation's ability to acquire ventilators?

As others have said it's not wise for a nation to stock enough ventilators for everyone. Items have a usable lifeline, need maintenance and are/can be expensive.

It would be like a nation like Norway stocking snake antivenom for all of it's population when under normal circumstances no more than 10 vials would easily be sufficient.

Prevention or rolling with the punches is the only real option with things like this.

originally posted by: RAY1990
a reply to: MerkabaMeditation

I'm not sure what the WHO have to do with individual nation's ability to acquire ventilators?

As others have said it's not wise for a nation to stock enough ventilators for everyone. Items have a usable lifeline, need maintenance and are/can be expensive.

It would be like a nation like Norway stocking snake antivenom for all of it's population when under normal circumstances no more than 10 vials would easily be sufficient.

Prevention or rolling with the punches is the only real option with things like this.

Those are the functions of the WHO, as far as I understand - you can read it for yourself in the WHO Constitution:

CHAPTER I – OBJECTIVE

Article 1

The objective of the World Health Organization (hereinafter called the
Organization) shall be the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible
level of health.

CHAPTER II – FUNCTIONS

Article 2

In order to achieve its objective, the functions of the Organization shall
be:
(a) to act as the directing and co-ordinating authority on international
health work;
...
(c) to assist Governments, upon request,in strengthening health services;
...
p) to study and report on, in co-operation with other specialized agencies
where necessary, administrative and social techniques affecting public
health and medical care from preventive and curative points of view,
including hospital services and social security;

Source: WHO Constitution page 2

-MM

a reply to: MerkabaMeditation

To assist governments, advice them and create a framework where medicine and preventative measures can be used and enacted on internationally.

Or are you trying to say that the WHO's power overrides the power of a sovereign nation? Because they don't. It's up to a nation to close borders, issue curfews etc. WHO do not run hospitals and health clinics.

Unless you're somehow trying to argue that they should have these powers over individual nations? Because you might have a point.

Taiwan calls China "vile" over restricting WHO access

I'm sure there's plenty of cases where the WHO have been told where to go or people have been restricted from accessing information or basic necessities.

I guess I'll have to ask the question too... Do you believe healthcare should be a universal right?

originally posted by: MerkabaMeditation
I disagree, if organizations like the WHO and other health administrators are not preparing us for impending epidemics & pandemics then they have failed in their mission to protect the general public.

I think countries which can e.g. like in the developed world do prepare themselves for pandemics, but the range of possible scenarios can never lead to a one-size fits all solution, and would never lead to foolhardy investment which serves no public good.

The ability of countries to deal with and effectively manage pandemics is the ultimate test as to whether they fail, or succeed in their mission to protect their citizens. The WHO has no jurisdiction over countries, so can only be an advisor. It is up to each country to deal with pandemics and work together where there is a need.

Understand what the WHO is...

a reply to: MerkabaMeditation

Here's a report on one reason for the lack of respirators in the USA.

justthenews.com...