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Source of surgical instruments should be checked, BMA says

BMJ 2008; 336 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.39601.602512.DB (Published 05 June 2008) Cite this as: BMJ 2008;336:1265
  1. Deborah Cohen
  1. 1BMJ

Doctors should encourage their hospitals or practices to ensure that the surgical instruments they purchase are “ethically procured,” a BMA report has said.

Each month the NHS buys millions of pounds’ worth of surgical instruments, with a considerable majority manufactured in Sialkot, Pakistan. Each year 100 million surgical instruments are produced in Sialkot, with a product range of more than 10 000 items worth about $191m (£98m; €124m).

But working conditions in factories are “unhealthy, unsafe, and unfair,” with exposure to toxic and corrosive chemicals, metal dust, noise, and dangerous machinery on the list …

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