A London-based Venezuelan charity has expressed concern at the impact recent political developments could have on the nation's health.

Dr Alejandro Arenas-Pinto, Senior Medical Advisor at leading health non-profit Healing Venezuela, claims instability prompted by the Trump Administration's capture of Nicolas Maduro could lead to healthcare outcomes for the average Venezuelan deteriorating.

The oil-rich nation has been plagued by turmoil since the death of former President Hugo Chavez in 2013, with shortages of basic goods, including medicines - becoming routine under his successor and protégé Maduro.

And Arenas-Pinto claimed this month's latest dramatic episode could exacerbate such scarcity.

He said: "Venezuelan people have learnt that every time there is a massive political event, risks for access to basic services are affected.

"As soon as the events of the 3^rd happened, they went to queue in supermarkets, grocery stores, pharmacies and petrol stations."

The doctor went on to allege medication shortfalls reached a peak of 80 per cent between 2015 - 19 – and worried that the latest in a long line of crises could see them soaring again.

He said: "Political instability and hyperinflation led to limited access to essential medication.

"The risks of that coming back is quite important. Last time we checked there's a 30 - 40 per cent shortage of essential medication in the country, so that could potentially get worse."

But for all the furore currently surrounding the oil-rich nation, Arenas-Pinto was keen to stress Venezuelans have been suffering silently behind the scenes for years.

UNICEF statistics reveal that maternal mortality has increased by more than 180 per cent in 20 years, 20 out of 1000 children die within 28 days of birth, and 54 per cent of hospitals lack regular access to safe water.

And according to 2023 data from the Pan American Health Organisation – the most recent available – just 1.4 per cent of the country's GDP is spent on healthcare, the second lowest in Latin America above only Haiti's 0.43 per cent.

Arenas-Pinto said: "Even when Venezuela is in the news for an acute political event, the humanitarian crisis is not new.

"People have been living this situation for years, and because of that the healthcare system is seriously affected."

Against such a dire backdrop, Healing Venezuela's work is more important than ever.

The charity was founded in 2016 and provides family planning services, clean water facilities and even junior doctor scholarships, among other initiatives.

For Arenas-Pinto, such programmes serve as a way for him and other expat Venezuelans to ensure the wellbeing of others still living in the country.

He said: "As Venezuelans living in the UK, our main priority is the safety of our fellow nationals.

"It's important to make sure that they can have not only a decent life, but a healthy life.

"Everything we supports the institutions, charities and academic groups trying to help and contribute to improvements."