In Fukushima prefecture where the Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant faced continuous incidents after the earth quake and tsunami, medical staff faced a lot of difficulties for lack of water supplies.

Many patients of the Medical University hospital had to wait for several days to get medicine but none have died so far, said Doctor Takatoshi Idel, who is in charge of medicine delivery.

He said many patients there are in poor condition. The shortage of petrol has caused a delay in the transport of medicines to the hospital, he added.

Other hospitals have also overstretched themselves to deal with an overload of patients. Onagawa Hospital in Miyagi prefecture has only four doctors but has to take care of more than 80 inpatients in the hospital and more than 300 outpatients. The hospital’s director, Doctor Toshihiko Abe, said that since the natural disaster, his staff have had to work round the clock and be on duty.

Doctor Abe said, “Nearby hospitals have sent their staff to help Onagawa overcome difficulties and provide proper treatment of patients.”