–
The Board of Directors of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Guatemala (Colmedelgua) rejected the transfer of Q600 million for the purchase of COVID-19 vaccines from the Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance (MSPAS) for the State of Calamity Emergency Fund approved by the Congress of the Republic last Wednesday.
In this sense, the College demanded that Congress guarantee the right to health and return the Q600 million to the Ministry of Health so that the portfolio can fulfill its obligation to meet the country’s health needs.
In addition, he asked Health to use the funds urgently to purchase the COVID-19 vaccine, which was the original purpose for which said funds were required, and thereby comply with the commitments regarding vaccination for the population.
The Board of Directors of the College of Physicians and Surgeons spoke out for the transfer of funds planned for vaccines against COVID-19 to issues related to the State of Calamity. pic.twitter.com/JO2qfcGRMK
– La Hora Newspaper (@lahoragt) June 25, 2022
REJECT MEASURE
Medical professionals rejected the initiative presented by Cándido Leal and approved by 104 congressmen, which they pointed out violates the right to health of Guatemalans.
“The Ministry of Finance’s expense containment letter should not be applied to the Ministry of Health, because it compromises the services that the population needs in the face of the health and environmental emergency that the country is facing,” they stressed.
They added that reducing or diverting financing from the Health portfolio means “illness and death for the population” and is opposed to the need to strengthen the country’s public health system.
They mentioned that the foregoing was expressed in the 2022 Budget Project, which contemplated an increase in resources to comply with coverage plans and strengthen the preventive procedure linked to the curative one.
They stressed that reducing the financing of the Health portfolio contravenes the National Vaccination Plan against COVID-19, compliance with which is still in process.
“The current coverage is 37% of the total population of the country with two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine… the right of all citizens to have access to this vaccine has been violated. And when they have left half a million boys and girls between 6 and 11 years old waiting for the second dose, they are still waiting, ”they specified.
DEPUTIES APPROVE TRANSFER
The deputies members of the official alliance approved the transfer of Q1 billion for an Emergency Fund for the State of Calamity; These funds would be transferred Q600 million of the purchase fund of vaccines from the Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance and Q400 million of funds from the Ministry of Communications, Infrastructure and Housing (CIV).
–
