HEALTH Minister Andreas Gavrielides yesterday confirmed a new batch of needles used in thalassaemia patients’ treatment would be withdrawn if an investigation into allegations that the needles were faulty proved accurate.
The minister was speaking on national radio following three separate complaints in under two months that the needles, used in a process to remove excess iron in patients suffering from the rare blood disorder, had snapped off during their removal, leaving part of them inside the patients.
The three patients were a 28-year-old woman, a 46-year-old man and a six-year-old boy.
The incident has not only caused distress to thalassaemia patients but has raised concerns from the Antianaemic Association, which wondered why it had not been consulted before the Health Ministry decided to change brand.
Association Chairman Iacovos Anastasiou said: “We have never had any reports in the past that there was a problem with the needles used in the procedure to remove excess iron from patients. It appears these needles are thinner than the old ones and are of an inferior quality.”
As part of their treatment, thalassaemics undergo regular red blood cell transfusions and go through the difficult and painful infusion of a drug, Desferal several times a week. It is the latter treatment, which helps in the elimination of iron from the patients’ body using a needle attached to a small battery-operated infusion pump.
These treatments greatly improve the quality of patients’ life and are vital to the patients’ long term survival, Anastasiou told the Cyprus Mail.
He added: “We are extremely concerned. Thalassaemics are terrified. This treatment is vital in ensuring they live normal lives and yet how can they be convinced to keep on using needles that might snap off inside them? One of the patients still has the needle inside her because doctors’ told her it would take major surgery to remove and that it wasn’t necessary. But who’s to guarantee that the needle will remain in place and not move around her body?”
The 28-year-old, who wished to remain unnamed, said she was appalled at the Health Ministry’s attitude to the issue. “I was told that I had put the needle in wrong, which is why it broke. The same was told to the 46-year-old Limassol man. Now that it’s happened to a six-year-old boy yesterday, they’re assessing whether it could be a faulty batch of needles. What am I supposed to do in the meantime? Use the same needles? What if another two or three snap off again? I’ve been using these needles for 28 years and never had a problem before now,” she said.
The Antianaemic Association insists it should have been consulted by the Health Ministry before placing an order for new needles.
“We should be asked our opinion or given samples to try. If this were done, it would help a lot and we would have no problems,” said Anastasiou.
“In the meantime, thalassaemics need to be patient and trust the situation will improve. I only hope the Minister will assess the situation and if the needles are faulty they’ll be removed.”
The Health Minister was yesterday unavailable for comment. He was expected to be meeting with Ministry officials to assess the situation.
