The global coronavirus pandemic has disrupted treatment for high blood pressure, diabetes and cancer.

New statistics from the World Health Organization indicate that in many countries affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare services for patients with high blood pressure, cardiovascular emergencies, diabetes, and cancer have suffered serious or widespread disruptions.

According to this statistic, in more than half of the countries, the provision of medical services to people with high blood pressure has been partially or completely stopped.

At the same time, treatment for half of people with diabetes and more than 40 percent of cancer patients has been stopped or disrupted.

At the same time, in many countries, screening of citizens for cancers, such as breast cancer or cervical cancer, has been stopped.

Handling more than 30% of cardiovascular emergencies has also practically stopped or is experiencing difficulties.

The provision of rehabilitation services, a key process for treating people, is disrupted or has been disrupted in more than two-thirds of countries.

World Health Organization statistics also show that in almost all countries, some or all of the medical staff who were working in non-communicable sectors have been sent to help COVID-19 patients.

The most important and serious reasons or challenges have been cited as cancellation of planned treatments, disruption of public transportation, or lack of personnel due to their transfer to wards for COVID-19 patients.

In Iran, concerns have also been expressed in recent months about the treatment or cure process for various diseases.

In May, a faculty member at Beheshti University in Tehran said, "On the one hand, patients [with cancer] are worried about postponing surgery, and on the other hand, doctors are worried about recurrence of the disease and the prognosis of the disease."

On the other hand, some of the health services affected by the coronavirus outbreak are dealing with complications that are very common in Iran.

For example, disruption in the process of providing medical services to patients with high blood pressure, while this condition, according to statistics from the Ministry of Health, accounts for half of all deaths in the country.

Regarding diabetes, official statistics indicate that 11% of the population over the age of 25 in Iran suffers from this disease.

Source: Radio Farda