Pharmaceutical unions issued a statement expressing the sector’s concern about the situation of growing debt accumulated in recent years, both by the Ministry of Health and the Social Welfare Institute (IPS).
The statement is signed by representatives of the Chamber of Representatives and Importers of Pharmaceutical, Toiletry, Household and Related Products (CRIPFA), the Paraguayan Chamber of Pharmaceutical Research Companies (CAPACINFAR), the Paraguayan Chamber of Medical Products and Equipment – Dental and Laboratory (CAPPEM), the Paraguayan Chamber of Diagnostic Equipment Importers (CAPIME) and the Paraguayan Chamber of In Vitro Diagnostic Innovators (CAPAIDI).
In the statement they maintain that the total debt of the sector exceeds approximately 630 million dollars at the close of July 31, 2023, of which 59% corresponds to the Ministry of Health, some 371.3 million dollars and 41% corresponds to the IPS, some 257.7 million dollars. Of the total, 440.4 million dollars, more than 70%, corresponds to the debt with the importing sector.
It may interest you: Health alert is activated in the event of a confirmed case of brucellosis
They further explain thatThe accumulated debt is registered since at least the year 2021, some files are even from an earlier date. “Part of the same account with a payment commitment by the Ministry of Health, however, they have not yet communicated the term or the payment plan to honor the commitment acquired,” they refer.
He also maintains thate from the union they permanently promoted open and collaborative dialogue, considering that the supply of the different services, medicines and inputs, were not interrupted despite the lack of payment.
“Today we see ourselves in the obligation to state that the long term of the debt puts us in an unsustainable situation and a reality that we have been dragging due to a lack of response from the Government. However, we harbor hope and find openness with the new Government, which has the health of all Paraguayans as an absolute priority ”, they highlight.
Also read: Marito puts the Council’s institutionality in check
They stress that for this reason, cThey trust the “effective and immediate management” required by the current Public Health situation to guarantee our compatriots a sensitive and human provision.
Finally, they urge the authorities to articulate the corresponding actions to guarantee health coverage and access to supplies and medicines for all the country’s health networks that provide assistance to citizens.
