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].