Health care process “collapse”: Physicians, experts sound alarm about Puerto Rico’s medical technique

Health care process “collapse”: Physicians, experts sound alarm about Puerto Rico’s medical technique

In the aftermath of Hurricane Maria, which hit in 2017, Puerto Rico’s public wellbeing treatment procedure was flooded with people in want. 

Now, Hurricane Fiona is predicted to include to the island’s overall health care crisis. About half of the persons residing on the island count on the public wellness care process. And neighborhood officials say federal funding gaps have led to staff shortages and lengthy hold out periods for individuals. 

Professionals say Hurricane Maria uncovered an by now deteriorating program. 

“If you question all the players within the health and fitness care procedure, people, providers and directors, they will all concur … Maria just confirmed you what is occurring, but the system collapsed way ahead of that,” reported Nelson Varas-Diaz, a researcher at Florida International College who oversees studies examining the condition of health and fitness care on the island.

Varas-Diaz points to debt as a motive for the collapse.

“The collapse is brought about predominantly by financial debt and the financial disaster in Puerto Rico and historic privatization of the well being care technique there. Our study shows people are waiting for six to 8 months to get an appointment with a professional. If that is not a indicator of collapse, I will not know what is,” explained Varas-Diaz. 

Dr. Edgar Domenech Fagundo, an ear, nose and throat expert in Ponce, Puerto Rico, would see 30 sufferers a day when he started off working towards in 1999. More than two many years afterwards, that selection has about doubled. 

“The normal I see is any place from 50 to 60 sufferers a working day each and every time I’m in the business office,” Fagundo claimed.  

His program is so chaotic he can’t see any new patients until March of 2023. He said the delay can possibly have lifestyle-threatening consequences on men and women.  

“The lengthier people today wait around, their prognosis will get delayed. And so factors like cancer and other diseases, you want to address them early so that individuals will have a improved prospect of overcome,” claimed Fagundo. 

Dr. Carlos Mellado, who grew to become Puerto Rico’s overall health secretary a year ago, claimed there are only 17 neurosurgeons in Puerto Rico — for a populace of 3.2 million men and women. 

Nicole Damiani’s spouse, Carlos Rivera, was hospitalized previously this thirty day period immediately after he fell on the flooring and had a seizure. He experienced to wait around eight times just before he observed a neurosurgeon. Carlos experienced bleeding and inflammation on his brain.

“It is genuinely challenging to come across a neurosurgeon right here in Puerto Rico. And it received to a level where I genuinely very low-essential gave up on existence,” he said. 

One particular of the motives it was so challenging for Carlos to come across medical treatment is that numerous Puerto Rican medical professionals are shifting to Florida exactly where the fork out is significantly better. 

Registered Nurse Gielliam Elias, who has been a nurse at Centro Médico de Puerto Rico

Read More... Read More