Subscriber OnlyLetters

Oil supply crisis impacts medicine

Petroleum and natural gas are absolutely critical to active pharmaceutical ingredients

Letters to the Editor. Illustration: Paul Scott
The Irish Times - Letters to the Editor.

Sir , – It concerns me greatly that the Government and the EU are not taking a holistic view on the oil supply crisis.

Surely they realise that petroleum and natural gas are absolutely critical to active pharmaceutical ingredients which are key for a wide variety of medicines, that polymers derived from oil are used in time release medication, that plastics derived from oils are used in producing IV bags, tubing syringes, blood bags along with PPE (Personal Protection Equipment).

They need to prioritise oil and natural gas supplies to the pharmaceutical and medical devices to safeguard hospital operability and pharmacy supplies. – Yours, etc,

JAMES DINEEN,

Bishopstown,

Co Cork.