Intervention at Incan seeks to continue improving service and provide warm care

The intervention at the National Cancer Institute (Incan) seeks to continue improving care for cancer patients.

This is in addition to efforts to provide medicines and decentralise services.

🗨️ Minister of @msaludpy, @mariatbaran. pic.twitter.com/ROi2QaYgcB

— IP Paraguay (@IPParaguay) July 31, 2024

Asuncion, IP Agency.- The Minister of Health, María Teresa Barán, stated that the Ministry of Health will continue to “always seek the best option for cancer patients.” The current intervention at the National Cancer Institute (INCAN) aims to find areas for improvement in care.

The decision to intervene was made yesterday, Tuesday, July 30, after successive meetings with cancer patients. The intervention team that will have to submit an action plan within 30 days to improve services.

In an interview with Paraguay TVMinister Barán pointed out that in addition to adequate care in the provision of medicines and equipment, the aim is to ensure empathy among all staff.

“If there is something that does not depend on the budget, if there is something that does not depend on whether a patient can access treatment or not, it is empathy and that warmth must start from the doorman, the general services staff, up to the hospital director or the administrative director,” he said.

Regarding the resignation of Dr. Raúl Doria as director of INCAN, the minister said that patients have referred to him as a brilliant doctor, who knows a lot about cancer treatment. “But he decided to step aside (from his position as director of INCAN); we respect his decision and what we want is to turn the page and see the best options for cancer patients,” she said.

Provision of medicines

The minister said that when she took office in August last year, they found a shortage of 11 oncology drugs, part of the basic list of medicines. Today, there is only one shortage of the drugs and a solution is already underway, she said.

Decentralization of services

Another key to improving care is the decentralization of services. “We will soon open the 10th decentralized service for chemotherapy treatment,” the minister said.

Added to this is the recovery of USD 3.47 million from the Covax Mechanism, which will be used to purchase two linear accelerators, equipment used in radiotherapy treatment that will be installed in Encarnación and Ciudad del Este.

“This decentralization brings added value in reducing out-of-pocket expenses for people,” the minister said.