The Philippine Online Chronicles

The United States military suspended evacuation flights for Haiti earthquake victims because of a dispute over medical care costs, according to a report.

According to US Transportation Command spokesman Kevin Aandahl, “Some states (in the U.S) were unwilling to accept the entry of Haitian patients for follow-on critical care." "Without a destination to fly to, we can't move anybody," Aandahl said.

This affected more than 500 people with spinal injuries, burns and other wounds that needed immediate medical attention.

US doctors in Haiti have expressed concern about the suspension of evacuation flights to America for critically injured Haitian earthquake victims. Dr. Barth Green, a senior American doctor at a field hospital in Port-au-Prince airport, warned that scores of patients could die if they did not get treatment in the US soon.

Apparently, the halting of mercy flights were due to a row over medical costs. Florida Governor Charlie Crist had “asked the government to share the costs of financial burden on his state's hospitals,” according to Agence France Presse.

The Defense and State Departments are fixing the problem, said Haitian Ambassador to the US Kenneth Merten.

A White House spokesman said flights were temporarily suspended due to lack of space. He said "logistical reasons and not funding” caused the halting of evacuation flights.

According to a CNN report, Florida officials say their state is committed to assisting earthquake victims, and denied that it asked that airlifts be stopped.

But in a letter from Crist to US Health Secretary Sebelius, the Florida governor warned: "Florida's healthcare system is quickly reaching saturation, especially in the area of high-level trauma care," BBC reported.

Crist said, "Florida does not have the capacity to support the evacuation of 30 to 50 critically ill patients from Haiti. He wrote, "Additional factors complicate Florida's current healthcare system capacity and we are at a current peak from winter tourism and seasonal residence migration."

He also asked the federal government to activate the National Disaster Medical System, which usually pays for victims' care in domestic disasters.

Disease, rape plague survivors

Meanwhile, thousands of quake survivors face rising cases of diarrhea, measles, and tetanus in tent settlements. The spread of diseases prompted UN agencies and Haiti's government to prepare a mass vaccination drive.

MSN News reported that survivors also face rising insecurity with reports of rape and violence plaguing the weak and vulnerable.

Meanwhile, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) had set up 16 distribution points in Port-au-Prince. But only women will be allowed in to collect rations, because, the WFP said, this has proved to be the best way to get food to the people who need it.

Ecuador President Rafael Correa criticized the aid efforts of US military and foreign NGOs. "They donate first, but most of it goes back to them," he said as he highlighted the "imperialism" of aid efforts in the quake-stricken nation.

---

Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites