“They only tell us that there is none, we are in panic because this disease is progressive,” says a patient who suffers from breast cancer and who has been living in uncertainty for several days, because the medications she uses in parallel with the chemotherapies are scarce in Roosevelt Hospital, where she is being treated.
More than a dozen patients with breast cancer and other oncological areas at Roosevelt Hospital face the same situation due to the lack of key medications for their treatment.
“It is worrying that the dates pass and we do not receive the medicine. We have called and they tell us that there is no availability,” say some of the patients at said hospital.
Among the medications that are missing, according to the patients, is Trastuzumab, a drug similar to the antibodies that the body produces to protect itself from infections by viruses and bacteria.
In the case of cancer patients, they must receive certain doses every month or every 15 days; However, some have not received it for between 5 and 3 months, so the concern is latent because the cancer spreads because the treatment is no longer effective.
They assure that it is not only that medication that they need.
Testimonials
“I am from San Pedro Ayampuc, I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2021 and in 2022 I received chemotherapy treatment and in that same year I had surgery, but following all that we remained under surveillance and the doctor gave us the medication that we needed. It helps keep the body under control, but lately it has been in short supply and months go by and they don’t give it to us,” said the patient who leaves her house at 3 in the morning on the day her appointment is due.
“They tell us there isn’t one, they give us a phone number where sometimes they answer and sometimes they don’t, and the truth is that we can’t stop taking the medication, because it helps us monitor our body,” he added.
Another patient said that for a year the delivery of medication has been irregular at Roosevelt Hospital.
“We have not been given it – the medicine – for regarding two or three months, and if there are maybe 20 or 30 you supply it and then they say there is none. The doctor tells me that I have to put it on every time she gives me chemotherapy, but they haven’t given it to me,” said the patient.
Sandra Illezcas said that since 2021 she has been under treatment at Roosevelt Hospital, but lately they have had to face a lack of medication.
“They give it to me every 18 days, but due to the shortage they haven’t given it to me. “I receive chemotherapies every week and according to what they told us, due to lack of medication it no longer has the same effect,” the patient added.
A position was requested from the Roosevelt Hospital and the Ministry of Health regarding the complaints of drug shortages, and although it was indicated that the director of said healthcare center would give an interview, this has not yet been provided.
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