WHILE DOCTORS at Santo Tomas Hospital, are mulling  a new strike over unfulfilled promises from the Ministry of Health, patients dependent on the  Social Security  (CSS) system  are protesting the shortage of medications.

Members of the National Federation of Patients with Critical, Chronic and Degenerative Diseases staged a demonstration on Tuesday, June 6, on the steps of the Social Security Hospital Complex on Via Transistmica.  demand greater access to medications.

They said shortages have threatened the lives of patients. For example, they reported that diclofenac sodium is needed at the pediatric hospital to relieve pain for those with sickle cell anemia

Meanwhile, Social Security officials said they are looking for solutions to solve, once and for all, the shortage of medicines.

Mirna Allen, one of the participants  mentioned the lack of erythropoietin, necessary to maintain the concentration of red blood cells in the blood.  

Patients with chronic and degenerative diseases have been waiting almost two years  for the CSS to conclude

a $76.8 million purchase , to acquire 45 lines of biological and biotechnological drugs  basic to treating  diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, immunodeficiency virus (HIV), schizophrenia, hemophilia, sickle cell anemia and multiple sclerosis.

According to the Panama Compra portal, the tender began in October 2015 and was awarded in December

2016, but to date the patients have not received the medications

The Constitution, says : "it is the State's essential function to ensure the health of the population'

Following the protest on the steps, the group went to the Social Security facilities in Clayton,  Where they met - for two hours - with Julio García Valarini, deputy director of Social Security.

García Valarini affirmed that there are already processes in process for the acquisition of the medicines, but they will speed up the mechanisms.