#KetamineIsMedicine
Goodevening guys,
Recently you may have come across this hashtag #KetamineIsMedicine majorly among physician anaesthetists or nurse anaesthetist. This is a campaign by the World Federation of Societies of anaesthesiologist (WFSA) against the threat of international restrictions on ketamine.This is aimed to draw awareness to the fact that China is pushing for this wonder drug to be 'scheduled' by UN commission on Narcotic Drugs(CND), which will make this drug not readily available to poor resource countries which do not have the privilege of other good anaesthetic drugs of choice especially in emergency situations.
China is leading in this internatioanl restrictions because it has a '#KetamineProblem'. it has become a leading recreational drug among its young people eclipsing heroin. Recreational ketamine is said to be produced at industrial scale in china.
So are we going to restrict this drug just because china has a social problem with it, to the detriment of billions of others that this drug will be their only saviour?
To many surgeons and anaesthetist, ketamine is a live saver.
"It an essential drug,the only anaesthetic agent that doesnt require oxygen,electricity,anaesthetic equipment or trained anaesthesia provider, all of which remain,limited in low and middle income countries."
It is absolutely vital to performing surgeries in countries with limited hospital resources.
Do you know that less than 15% of anaesthesiologist work in low and middle income countries (LMIC)? which implies that nurses and clinical assistants give the most anaesthetics.
Do you know that 2 Billion people in rural areas in LMICs already lack access to essential medicines?
70% of medical facilities in 22 LMICs recently surveyed had ketamine available and oxygen was consistently available only 46% of the time.
Ketamine like every other drug has its side effects but it doesnt cause significant social harm. Chronic and heavy abuse can cause limited harmful effects,however its benefits in most countries outweigh its social harm. Therefore for us working in poor resource settings, restricting this drug could lead to loss of precious lives.
This drug is so good that it can be used to manage pains in cancer patients, treat depression and other mental illnesses and as well be a sole anaesthetic agent in some climes.
Restricting this drug will further worsen the conditions in already poor areas,it will limit the access to prompt treatment when necessary and increase the cost of healthcare provision.
Lets help ensure patient safety worldwide.
Support this campaign against restricting availability of #Ketamine.
#K
etamineIsMedicine.
Recently you may have come across this hashtag #KetamineIsMedicine majorly among physician anaesthetists or nurse anaesthetist. This is a campaign by the World Federation of Societies of anaesthesiologist (WFSA) against the threat of international restrictions on ketamine.This is aimed to draw awareness to the fact that China is pushing for this wonder drug to be 'scheduled' by UN commission on Narcotic Drugs(CND), which will make this drug not readily available to poor resource countries which do not have the privilege of other good anaesthetic drugs of choice especially in emergency situations.
China is leading in this internatioanl restrictions because it has a '#KetamineProblem'. it has become a leading recreational drug among its young people eclipsing heroin. Recreational ketamine is said to be produced at industrial scale in china.
So are we going to restrict this drug just because china has a social problem with it, to the detriment of billions of others that this drug will be their only saviour?
To many surgeons and anaesthetist, ketamine is a live saver.
"It an essential drug,the only anaesthetic agent that doesnt require oxygen,electricity,anaesthetic equipment or trained anaesthesia provider, all of which remain,limited in low and middle income countries."
It is absolutely vital to performing surgeries in countries with limited hospital resources.
Do you know that less than 15% of anaesthesiologist work in low and middle income countries (LMIC)? which implies that nurses and clinical assistants give the most anaesthetics.
Do you know that 2 Billion people in rural areas in LMICs already lack access to essential medicines?
70% of medical facilities in 22 LMICs recently surveyed had ketamine available and oxygen was consistently available only 46% of the time.
Ketamine like every other drug has its side effects but it doesnt cause significant social harm. Chronic and heavy abuse can cause limited harmful effects,however its benefits in most countries outweigh its social harm. Therefore for us working in poor resource settings, restricting this drug could lead to loss of precious lives.
This drug is so good that it can be used to manage pains in cancer patients, treat depression and other mental illnesses and as well be a sole anaesthetic agent in some climes.
Restricting this drug will further worsen the conditions in already poor areas,it will limit the access to prompt treatment when necessary and increase the cost of healthcare provision.
Lets help ensure patient safety worldwide.
Support this campaign against restricting availability of #Ketamine.
#K
Enter your comment...#You are sure on point, Dr. Nnanna. China can play safe by transferring such technology and close shop or reorient it's populace. Either way, production should go on for the positive aspects of the drug until we can find a safer replacement.
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