Middle East War Disrupts Helium for Canadian MRI Machines

OTTAWA — The ongoing war in the Middle East has disrupted global helium supplies, leading to a temporary 50 percent cut in allocations for Canadian health services and raising concerns over the nation's reliance on imported critical medical materials.

In Saskatchewan, the provincial health authority received notice from its supplier that liquid helium deliveries, essential for cooling MRI machines, would be halved. A spokesperson for the authority stated there has been no disruption to patient care so far. The shortage stems from strikes by Iran on Gulf states in early March, which prompted QatarEnergy, a state-owned company and one of the world's top helium producers, to shut down a key liquefied natural gas terminal under force majeure provisions. Helium, a byproduct of natural gas processing, is vital for MRI operations and scientific research equipment like nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometers.

Canada's largest helium distributor, Air Liquide, has also invoked force majeure, notifying customers of the supply reductions and accompanying price increases. HealthPro Canada, a nonprofit aiding about 2,100 medical facilities nationwide and representing roughly 80 percent of...