Suez Canal blockage and its global impact on healthcare amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

Abstract

It is estimated that 90% of the world’s trade, including hospital supplies and medicines, is transported by sea and man-made waterways, such as the 193-kilometre-long (120 miles) Suez Canal, which cuts through Egypt and connects Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea. This artificial channel in Egypt has played an important role in economic growth since its completion in 1869, serving as an artery of world trade, including the healthcare industry, being a key transit point for ships moving goods from Asia, Middle East, and Europe [1, 2]. On an average day, the canal caters to nearly 50 vessels carrying essential commodities. It was responsible for the transit of over 19,000 ships in 2019 representing nearly a third of the world’s container ship traffic, equating to nearly 1.25 billion metric tons of cargo, and accounting for about 12% to 13% of world trade per year [3]. However, on March 23, 2021, a 224,000-ton and 400-metre-long cargo ship Ever Given ran aground near the southern end of the Suez Canal due to low visibility and poor navigation amid 40-knot winds and a sandstorm [4], causing a blockage in the major waterway. Meanwhile, navigation through the Suez Canal was temporarily suspended and ships en-route the canal during this incident were escorted back to nearby anchorage areas [5]. This week-long incident resulted in a maritime traffic jam causing at least 422 cargo vessels carrying oil and consumer goods to be stranded, holding up an estimated $9.6 billion of trade daily. It has also forced multiple operators to reroute vessels around Africa’s Cape of Good Hope travelling an extra 6,000 miles, and substantially extending navigation time to about 3 weeks [6–8]. Aside from the global trade, countless retailers also suffered losses due to the blockage as key shipments were delayed. The extent of economic loss due to the blockage is likely to be even higher when costs such as additional shipping operation charges, commodity prices and shipping delays are factored in [8]. Fortunately, the Suez Canal blockage was resolved on March 29, 2021. Tugboats were used to re-float the vessel, while dredges excavators have been removing sand and mud from around the port side [5]. However, its impact still constitutes a global concern. The obstruction of the canal has caused a global shortage of essential commodities, including medical and surgical supplies and medicines, which are essential during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Several countries currently suffering from the global public health emergency were greatly affected due to the delay of shipment of hospital and pharmaceutical supplies caused by the Suez Canal blockage [9]. Given the crucial role of the shipping industry in the timely delivery of healthcare resources and the detrimental effect triggered by a single vessel, healthcare industry and stakeholders have found themselves to a precarious position [10]. On top of the financial losses, frontline workers have found themselves in short of personal protective equipment, non-COVID-19 wards have experienced even more difficulties in maintaining their functionality, and outpatient and informal/at-home care have been affected by shortages. In a word, healthcare delivery could have been