Impending fuel shortage: “If the laboratory fails, medical care will come to a standstill in large parts”
DGKL CEO Jan Wolter explains the dramatic consequences of a potential fuel shortage for laboratory medicine in an interview with MedLabPortal. He expects the federal government to come up with contingency plans for Day X.
MedLabPortal: Mr. Wolter, the EU is making emergency plans to maintain flight operations due to the imminent kerosene shortage. Has the DGKL also been contacted by the EU or the Federal Government regarding the safeguarding of laboratory medicine?
Wolter: I have not received any request. But so far it’s only about kerosene …
MedLabPortal: How would a fuel shortage in the field of laboratory medicine affect the German healthcare system?
Wolter: The effects would be complex. One is the sample transport. Here, people are still dependent on diesel and gasoline, even if a switch to electric vehicles is underway. The staff is also partly dependent on the car and home office is rather difficult in many cases. Supply chains are also particularly critical: reagents and other materials are delivered by truck. Rising fuel prices are therefore also likely to increase logistics costs. If there is a shortage and supply chains fail as a result, the consequences are hard to imagine. If the laboratory fails, medical care comes to a standstill in large parts.
MedLabPortal: What advice do you have for the BMG in terms of ensuring the resilience of German laboratory medicine?
Wolter: I expect to prepare for corresponding scenarios. How do you deal with it when there is no longer enough fuel available? Or even if prices rise massively? Just in case, appropriate plans must be in the drawer and these should be better developed together with the industry. Because even if we all wish that these cases never happen, the principle of hope is not an option.
MedLabPortal: Thank you for your time.
The questions were asked by Vlad Georgescu
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DGKL board member Jan Wolter calls for a total reset of the German healthcare system – MedLabPortal
Editor: X-Press Journalistenbüro GbR
Gender Notice. The personal designations used in this text always refer equally to female, male and diverse persons. Double/triple naming and gendered designations are used for better readability. ected.
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