The shortage of medicines in the market generates a serious concern among cancer patients, since it hinders access to the necessary treatments and puts their health at risk.
At least two dozen patients from the San Juan de Dios General Hospital have been alarmed at this situation, since they have not been able to receive the treatment they require.
The problem was released on Monday, March 24, when patients and relatives began to express their anguish.
When consulting with the hospital address, the medical deputy director explained that they face a shortage of supplies, since it has been difficult to get the necessary medications. When they manage to find them, some suppliers do not meet the required requirements and have even caused adverse reactions in patients, which has led to avoid the use of certain trademarks. In addition, they have detected suppliers that, although they offer the product, do not have health records or licenses, so they cannot be acquired.
In the Oncology area more than 90 products are used, and some of them, such as hydrochloride doxorubicin, are essential in the treatment of various types of cancer, including leukemia, sarcomas, neuroblastomas, leukosis, lymphomas and others. This drug is also crucial for people with HIV/AIDS. Its absence compromises patient care and generates uncertainty about how the situation will be addressed in the next few days.
The General Hospital attend between 100 and 125 outpatients from Monday to Friday to receive chemotherapy. They are already contemplated in the budget; However, each week there are 30 % and 40 % of new cases, which affects the inventory.
And although there is the Law for Comprehensive Cancer care (Decree 7-2024), patients and doctors express concern, since the newly created regulations have closed doors presents legal, technical, financial and governance governance that, if not corrected, will put at risk the effective application of the law.
Miriam Alcázar, technical deputy director of the San Juan de Dios, said they do their best to keep the 97 medications used in oncology available, but emphasized that they often depend on suppliers. He added that, in the case of medicines that come from abroad, they are waiting for their arrival. However, due to the daily increase of patients, provisions are running out.