Nationwide shortage of crucial drugs in hospitals as Covid-19 cases surge

Many government hospitals across the country are facing a critical shortage of medications, including those needed to treat serious Covid-19 cases, according to sources inside the healthcare system.

Among the medicines involved are those widely used in intubation procedures at intensive care units (ICUs).

It is learnt that the high number of coronavirus patients who needed to be put on life-support machines was the chief reason behind the shortage.

Naming a few, sources said the medicines that are running out include Precedex, Propofol, Morphine, Rocuronium and Atracurium - used for sedation and as muscle relaxants.

Clexane, an important anti-coagulant drug used for Covid-19 treatment, is also depleted...