The Ministry of Public Health and Population and the Yemeni Society for Thalassemia and Hereditary Blood Patients held a press conference today, Thursday, to comment on the scarcity of life-saving drug stocks as a result of the Saudi-American blockade on Yemen.
Dr. Ahmed Shamsan, head of the Yemeni Society for Thalassemia and Hereditary Blood Diseases, explained that 40,000 patients with blood clots in Yemen have increased their suffering due to the blockade, the prevention of entry of medicines, and the low economic level of their families.
Shamsan pointed out that due to the complexities of the blockade, essential medicines for patients with hereditary hemolysis need to arrive from 6 months to a full year from the moment of request, stressing that there is a real danger to patients’ lives due to the lack of essential medicines for thalassemia patients and the disavowal of United Nations organizations.
Dr. Mukhtar Ismail, Director of the Treatment Center for Thalassemia Patients, explained that patients’ ability to receive treatment and access to our centers has declined by about 42% under the blockade.
Ismail confirmed that the stock of life-saving medicines for thalassemia patients reached zero in the governorates of Hajjah and Al-Hodeidah, and close to this number in the capital and other governorates.
Ali Jahaf, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health for the therapeutic medicine sector, said “The ministry lacks regular funding to provide life-saving medicines in light of the siege and the draining of state resources by the aggression coalition.”
