I only had mouthwash stock for four weeks – NRK Norway – Summary of news from different parts of the country

Until now, authorities have been reluctant to reveal figures on how much contagion equipment Norway had before the crown pandemic hit Norway.

Previously, authorities argued that the figures would create fear and uncertainty if released. This created strong reactions and the Health Directorate later regretted the justification.

Today, Høie says they couldn’t come up with the figures earlier because potential sellers could use it in the negotiations.

– In this situation, it was strategically important not to give potential sellers information that they could use to negotiate with our team. In other words, this was necessary to secure our negotiating position, our financial interests and the necessary access to the team, ”Høie tells NRK.

He had surgical bandages for four weeks.

In a written response to the Kjersti Toppe from the Center Party, Høie states how much (or little) pollution equipment Norway had when the crown pandemic hit the country.

What is worth noting is that inventory is set up for one normal consumption.

• Protection against infection / coat care: 18 weeks.

• Gloves: 7 weeks, and the wholesaler had extra stock.

• Surgical bandages: 4 weeks.

• Respiratory protection: 41 weeks.

• Eye / visor protection: 45 weeks.

• Hat operation: 4 weeks.

– Is not sufficient

The Minister of Health admits that the emergency stocks have not been good enough.

– Inventories in Norway and most other countries were not good enough to deal with a pandemic situation that started in the country where most of the equipment is produced, Høie responds in a written response to NRK.

– Four weeks of normal oral surgery, were we at a point close to running out of pandemics?

– When I commissioned Health South-East RHF to establish a specialized crisis team to support providers with shipment and shipment of cargo, it was in particular the lack of mouthwash deliveries that led to this decision. In other words, there was a concern that this could become a deficiency situation, Høie replies.

He notes that they took steps to establish an effective purchasing and shipping organization that has been crucial to the supply of equipment. In addition, several Norwegian companies have signed an agreement with Sykehusinnkjøp HF on the production of various types of infection control equipment.

To date, authorities have distributed more than 12 million mouthwashes to hospitals and municipalities, with more on the way.

“The coronavirus outbreak has definitely challenged the country, and not least the health trusts and municipalities, in a way that we have not experienced before. The inventory of the contamination equipment is an element of preparation that is now being tested, “Høie writes in response to Tope.

High demand and lack of contamination equipment have led hospitals and nursing homes to ration the equipment for a long time.

Tops: fear

Girl tops. who asked Høie the question, the figures show that Norway was ill-prepared.

– Shows that the country was practically without major contamination equipment in week 11. It was a dramatic situation. I think it is scary that we had so little control and that we were not better prepared, “Toppe tells NRK.

She believes that the stocks of some of the contagion kits would only be sufficient for a few days of consumption if new supplies had not arrived.

– Four weeks of normal use of mouthwash and surgical hats is nothing in a pandemic period. There is talk of a few days. There is no preparation at all. It was a precarious and serious situation. Fortunately, we were able to import more, but it must have been extremely serious when there was a shortage of common infection control kits, says Tope, who believes this should be part of the post-pandemic assessment.

Although it is the health authorities that must provide the contamination equipment, she knows that Høie has overall responsibility.

– Høie has been Minister of Health since 2013, and it is his responsibility that this has been followed by the health authorities. It is clear that Norwegian health services were poorly and unjustifiably prepared for a pandemic when it comes to infection control teams. And that is the government’s responsibility, Tope concludes.