Coronavirus: the lack of medical gloves in France is confirmed and prices explode

Audio 01:23

Text by: RFI Follow

2 min

After the masks, the gloves? In France, fear is present among many liberal health professionals who have more and more difficulty in finding medical examination gloves.

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Liberal health professionals fear that they will no longer be able to stock up on gloves, but for nurses working in private practice, the shortage is already there.

"  Recently I went to look for equipment, the supplier gave me a box of gloves for each nurse," explains Antoinette Tranchida, president of the National Organization of Liberal Nurses Unions (Onsil) . We are three starters and two substitutes, so, in fact, there are absolutely no vinyl gloves. There are still vinyls but the prices go to € 6.50 to € 18 or 20 per box and then there are latex gloves which are rarely used by nurses because of many allergies to the products. So the shortage is indeed effective. "

A very effective shortage, while we fear the occurrence of a second wave of the coronavirus. And for liberal nurses, it is impossible to work without protection.

“  If I don't have gloves, I can't help people, I can't do dressings,” continues Antoinette Tranchida. In some cases, I cannot take blood samples, so gloves are an essential tool for private nurses who train many health professionals. So we expect the state to get involved and take the necessary measures so that we can have access to the equipment.  "

Liberal nurses hope that the state will facilitate their access to quality protective equipment at the same price as before the health crisis.

For Jean-Michel Elvira, liberal nurse and member of Onsil, the problem is real.

The government tells us to "replenish your stocks". The problem is that stocks, either we don't have any, or they are overpriced and that poses a real problem.

Jean-Michel Elvira, liberal nurse

Aram Mbengue

► To read also: Coronavirus: the situation in France is going "in the wrong direction" says Jean Castex

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