The Spanish government cries out that Turkey had blocked a delivery of medical supplies urgently needed to help tackle the coronavirus outbreak in the country.
Spain had yet to receive the respirators it had bought from China after Turkey “decided to keep them in case they may need them in their battle against coronavirus,”
The Foreign Minister Arancha Gonzalez Laya said the equipment remained in the Turkish custody over Ankara’s restrictions on the export of medical services.
Turkey’s trade minister, Ruhsar Peckan had indicated that the country was restricting the export of respirator-related medical equipment in order to meet domestic needs.
These include ventilators, intubation devices and intensive care monitors – they would be subject to government authorization.
The Spanish embassy said it had been trying to resume the delivery of the respirators, which were particularly bought by two local communities with critically ill coronavirus patients.
