Scientists probe role of vitamin D: deficiency a significant problem, experts say.

tant Abt Associates Inc, showed that 90% do not have a consistent water supply and 50% do not have electrical generators. “We never have a day without the electricity cutting off for 12 hours or longer, and half of these centers have no generator,” said Alwan. The same survey showed that 95% of those centers do not have gynecologic tables or electrocardiogram machines. “When we say there’s a scarcity of equipment, we’re not talking about MRI or CT scans,” Alwan explained. “We’re talking about stethoscopes, sphygmomanometers—central equipment is missing.” Even though the health ministry has developed a new formulary, Alwan said the country’s pharmaceutical sector is “totally inorganized . . . we do not have a national drug policy.” In June, he added, a task force charged with investigating medication shortages found that of 900 essential medications that should be available in Iraq, supplies of 400 were down to zero.