Doctors at a Moldovan children’s hospital claim they have to use household tools in surgery due to a lack of proper medical equipment.

One doctor claimed to have filmed a video leaked to local media and online showing a power drill being used in an operation, after management refused to buy equipment.

The video has caused outrage among the public and government officials.

“We’ve used this drill for decades and all our hopes of getting medical equipment to work with have ended without success,” explained doctor Nicolæ Curca.

The hospital’s director claims the drills he purchased were not being used and accused doctors of a smear campaign. The Health Minister said three medical drills were found at the hospital, but not the household item.

Andrei Usatii, the Moldovan health minister hoped to calm the public over the concerns: “From a medical point of view, providing that all conditions of sterilisation and safety are observed, any drill can be used for giving a rotational motion to the drill bit which pierces the bone”.

The deputy health minister confirmed the accuracy of the video, saying it was common practice in other hospitals in Moldova.

The former Soviet republic is one of the poorest nations in Europe.