IRAQ: Shortage of drugs for epileptic children

[Barrett808]

Iraqi doctors have reported a shortage of medicine for children suffering from epilepsy because of the high cost of purchasing the drugs needed to treat the condition.

Epilepsy occurs when there are intermittent seizures of the brain, which if not controlled by medication, can worsen and even lead to death. The condition is common among children.

Epilepsy also affects adults but medicine for their treatment is more widely available in Iraq and at a lower price.

Dr Muhammad Toufick told IRIN in Baghdad that the lack of medicine is affecting most of his patients and that there have been four cases since March where children have died because they have not received vital medication.

(more)

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/IRIN/07f470b47fc6f41189154c8d86d0a36b.htm

[LynnTheDem]

1. "because of the HIGH COST"??? Gee, there's $100 MILLION

floating around in some US official's pocket over there...