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Venezuela’s President Asks UN for Help With Medical Supplies


FILE - Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro speaks during an anti-imperialist rally in Caracas, Venezuela, March 9, 2017. Maduro said in a televised appearance Friday that he asked the United Nations for help boosting medicine supplies in the shortage-pl
FILE - Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro speaks during an anti-imperialist rally in Caracas, Venezuela, March 9, 2017. Maduro said in a televised appearance Friday that he asked the United Nations for help boosting medicine supplies in the shortage-pl

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said Friday he has asked the United Nations to help the South American nation alleviate medicine shortages, which have become increasingly severe as the oil-producing nation’s economic crisis accelerates.

Triple digit inflation and a decaying socialist economic model have left medications ranging from simple anti-inflammatory drugs to chemotherapy medication out of reach for most Venezuelans.

Maduro did not specify the type of aid he requested, although he stressed that the U.N. has knowledge of the pharmaceutical industry.

“I have asked them for support to continue making permanent progress in the regularization of medicines for hospitals,” he said.

Maduro earlier Friday met with Jessica Faieta, assistant administrator and director of the U.N. Development Program, according to state television.

The Venezuelan Pharmaceuticals Federation estimates some 85 percent of drugs are unavailable to the country’s citizens.

Maduro often blames the deteriorating economy and widespread shortages of goods on an “economic war” led by opposition politicians with the help of the United States.

Critics say the problems are the result of dysfunctional price and currency controls that have decimated private industry.

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    Reuters

    Reuters is a news agency founded in 1851 and owned by the Thomson Reuters Corporation based in Toronto, Canada. One of the world's largest wire services, it provides financial news as well as international coverage in over 16 languages to more than 1000 newspapers and 750 broadcasters around the globe.

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