Valencia. The president of the Foundation to Fight Breast Cancer in Carabobo (Funcamama), Luisa Rodríguez, denounced that in Venezuela only 2 of 25 radiotherapy units registered in the country are operating, which he said puts at risk the care of more than 3,500 people with oncological condition.
The president of Funcamama expressed concern, noting that During 2020 only 0.5% of the Venezuelan population received care for cancer investigations of the different types of cancer.
“There are failures in the timely diagnosis. Only less than 2% of the radiotherapy units work, people have to move to Caracas and San Juan de los Morros to be able to comply with their treatments. A patient who must be treated within a maximum period of two months may take up to a year to start treatment, ”said the Funcamama spokeswoman.
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Rodríguez indicated that register 96% shortage of cancer drugs so some people cannot comply with their treatments. He indicated that family members have to make efforts to obtain medinas through different routes and at high costs.
“Only one of the molecules that people need for chemotherapy arrives. Some people have to resort to drug trafficking through Colombia because they are not available here and we are concerned that most of these drugs do not comply with the cold chain they require, “he added.
Another concern of the Funcamama representative is that there is a long waiting list for surgical interventions that exceeds four months. He noted that the delay in operations is due to the fact that the available operating rooms do not have air conditioners.
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Luisa Rodríguez denounced that electricity and fuel failures also affect the care of people with oncological pathologies, since some centers do not have power plants and others have limitations to purchase fuel.
“Without electricity, chemotherapy cannot be applied, the radiotherapy equipment cannot function, nor can the operating rooms. The mobilization from the interior to Caracas has been difficult due to the lack of gasoline and because the safe conducts are not given to be able to mobilize. At the beginning of the pandemic, people had to pay between $ 30 and $ 50 to enter the capital and receive their treatments.
The president of Funcamama urged those who assume power in the country to take actions to improve the conditions of the health system in Venezuela and guarantee citizenship care, as established by the Constitution.
Ruth Lara CastilloCenter
Ruth Lara CastilloCenter
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