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Despite slowing down of new coronavirus cases in China, the healthcare sector continues to face strong challenges as mask and personal protective equipment (PPE) shortages across major countries, including the US, raise concerns over the dependency of the healthcare providers on the Chinese goods markets.

Since January, hospitals across the globe have been stockpiling supplies amid coronavirus outbreak. However, amid rising number of patients with flu cases, healthcare providers in China as well as in various countries are witnessing a shortage in crucial equipment, including the specialized N95 respirator masks (customized to prevent major infections and are more powerful than the normal surgical masks). These masks are not only used by the infectious patients but also by the health workers and the medical practitioners.

Shortage of medical necessities like the N95 masks could either be driven by rising demand from the hospitals and the public or hitches in the supply chain. The mask or other medical goods manufacturers have limited production; meanwhile, plant shutdown and lack of labors amid the coronavirus scare have disrupted the supply chain. Plant shutdowns and workers absent from work have posed several challenges for various other industries too. In addition, China and particularly Wuhan, where the infection has originated from, has been taking strong measures to prevent the infection from spreading further and hence is grabbing masks and PPE from the factories.

Whatever the reasons are, a shortage in medical equipment supplies at the hospitals or centres treating the patients increase the risks of further infections among the medical practitioners and the workers. Interestingly, amid the coronavirus outbreak, any attempts to contain the infection cannot overshadow the impact of other healthcare problems. Means, there are patients too who are undergoing treatment of other diseases like tuberculosis and would need the masks and PPE frequently. So, any disruptions in supply chain of healthcare products and equipment would affect the global healthcare system and, thus, would elevate the concerns over providing necessary healthcare services across the globe.

Nevertheless, it is too early to gauge the exact loss that the healthcare sector is facing due to the coronavirus outbreak. But, supply of medical necessities would remain a concern.