The San Juan de Dios General Hospital, one of the most important care centers in the region, faces a resource crisis that affects hundreds of patients.
Several face the challenge of waiting for weeks for an operation. Some are already admitted to the health center, while others have been waiting for a bed for months, since it is not an emergency.
On the edge of crying, relatives of affected patients reported Guatevisión and Free press The Calvary that they live, since their relatives have been hospitalized for more than a month, because they require elective surgeries.
Although these procedures are scheduled in advance, they now force them to wait weeks and even months in a bed to be able to be intervened.
Every day, some patients should fast to undergo surgery, but in the end nothing happens.
Meanwhile, others remain on the waiting list without being able to access a bed, since it is not about emergencies.
Months without operation
One of the relatives of the affected patients, explained that they have been told that there are no beds, that they have to wait for them to call, because there is no room in rooms and that they have many patients.
He pointed out that his relative expects gallbladder surgery since October 2024.
“It is gallbladder and yes, it has been suffering a lot of pain and tells me that sometimes the doctor does not come to see him and that nobody tells him anything, then we are still waiting for the call,” he said.
They want to say goodbye to work
Another person said they have lived a Calvary with their patient in that health center.
He explained that he entered at the end of January for surgery due to pain that he had close to the prostate.
He recalled that his relative requested permission in his work because they told him that they would operate him in a week, but time passed and have not intervened.
They were demanded by two blood donors and had to pay individuals to do so and thus expedite the operation, but they have not practiced it.
He recalled that the employer of his relative informed them that he was going to fire him, because he did not show up to work, so the family went to talk to him and explained the problem in the hospital.
The employer requested medical records and information on the situation, but apparently they want to say goodbye and not pay him complete.
Those affected also said that to enter food to their patients there are people who demand money and if they do not pay food they cannot be taken to the sick.
“We want them to operate and give it discharge and thus prevent them from fired,” said the patient’s relative.
“We do not want to die at the San Juan de Dios Hospital for not doing the operation,” he said.
Exceeded
The hospital authorities say they work to improve the situation, but recognize that the capacity of the health center is exceeded due to emergencies such as traffic accidents and acts of violence.
“We have the problem of overload that exceeds us at all levels. The hospital is full. We have 13 rooms working, but four are for emergencies. The intensive is also full with so many injured people, ”said Lissette Aguilar, deputy director of the San Juan de Dios General Hospital.
He added that no more patients can enter because they have not yet managed to attend to those who are admitted.
“We have no beds,” he reiterated.