THE MEDICAL Director of Santo Tomas Hospital (HST)  where doctors have threatened to strike because of a deepening administrative crisis, told a  hastily called press conference  that there were problems but they were being solved.

Luis Carlos Bravo admitted Wednesday August 10 that that hospital is experiencing difficulty in acquiring supplies and medicines. However, he said that they have taken and will continue to take all necessary measures to cope with the situation.

"There is no denying that things that there are difficulties in the procurement process," said Bravo, but they  are taking immediate and long term steps to continue to provide care to patients.

He said  that every 24 hours the  drug list is reviewed to identify those in short supply… Every day we source more inputs ... we are not going back.".

Proof of this is that  the number of patients seen in the emergency room in the outpatient clinic or surgical wards has not decreased he said.

"There is denying that problems exist, but they are being solved," said Bravo, without specifying a time frame..

Bravo’s  statements came  after thehospital’s   Association of Medical Specialists agreed unanimously on Tuesdat to give the authorities one week to find concrete solutions to the hospital  crisis in the country otherwise, they would go on a 48-hour strike.