US EditionThe Iran war has renewed calls for a sovereign medical supply chain
Air Liquide warned some customers of a 50% cut and higher prices as researchers said supply shocks could delay work for years.
- Air Liquide, Canada's largest liquid helium distributor, declared force majeure following conflict in the Middle East, notifying customers of a 50 per cent supply reduction for the critical coolant used in MRI machines.
- Strikes by Iran on Gulf states prompted state-owned QatarEnergy to shut down a main natural gas terminal, halting helium production. Qatar remains one of the world's largest suppliers of the liquid coolant.
- Saskatchewan's health authority warned of temporary 50 per cent allocation cuts, though patient care remains unaffected. Researchers using spectrometers require around 500 litres every five weeks, risking permanent 'quench' damage if magnets lose superconductivity.
- HealthPro Canada CEO Christine Donaldson is pushing back against price hikes, stating suppliers must honor existing contracts. The non-profit serves around 2,100 medical facilities, representing 80 per cent of Canadian hospitals and health authorities.
- Anne Snowdon, CEO of the Supply Chain Advancement Network in Health, argues Canada lacks a central agency to manage product shortages. She advocates for increased provincial collaboration to secure long-term supply sovereignty.
38 Articles
38 Articles
Iran war has renewed calls for a sovereign medical supply chain
OTTAWA – The fallout from the war in the Middle East has led to cuts in helium supplies for health services in at least one province – and experts are warning Canada still hasn't done enough to secure sovereignty over critical medical supply chains.
The war in Iran could lead to a shortage of medical supplies in Canada, including helium used in MRIs, alerting experts.
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Why the Iran war has renewed calls for a sovereign medical supply chain
The fallout from the war in the Middle East has led to cuts in helium supplies for health services in at least one province - and experts are warning that Canada still hasn't done enough to secure sovereignty over critical medical supply chains. Saskatchewan's health authority says it has been warne...
In light of the ongoing war with Iran, the medical technology industry is warning of a shortage of helium, which is essential for operating MRI machines, among other things. "Currently, there are only isolated restrictions, but some companies expect short-term bottlenecks and rising costs," the German Industry Association for Optics, Photonics, Analytical and Medical Technology (Spectaris) told Welt am Sonntag. The association is currently condu…
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