A proposal that is about to come before the UN to restrict global access to ketamine, a drug abused in rich countries, would deprive millions of women of lifesaving surgery in poor countries, according to medicines campaigners.
Ketamine, known to clubbers by a variety of names including ket, Vitamin K and Special K, is one of the most commonly used anaesthetics in the developing world. As it is injectable, it can be used in rural areas where anaesthetic gases are unavailable.
Surgery in parts of the developing world, and particularly caesarean sections without which women with difficult labours may die, would be reduced and sometimes even unavailable. Campaigners say the health of at least two billion people would be affected.
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