- Some of the health centers most affected by the power outages were the Dr. Angel Larralde, Rafael Gonzalez Plaza, Jose Maria Espinoza Maternal and Child Hospital, Jose Antonio Paez and Raul Leoni Hospitals | Photo: EFE
The non-governmental organization (NGO) Monitor Salud reported that at least 32% of hospitals in Venezuela suffered constant blackouts between May and June 2024.
Monitoring showed that 32 health centers were affected by power outages during that period. The organization divided the affected health centers according to the hours during which they were without services.
The NGO explained that 67.7% of the affected hospitals had power outages lasting between 19 and 24 hours, while 14.7% had power cuts lasting between 13 and 18 hours, another 14.7% had power restrictions lasting between 7 and 12 hours, and finally 2.9% had power cuts lasting up to 6 hours.
Among the hospitals most affected by these restrictions on electricity service are Dr. Angel Larralde (Carabobo), Rafael González Plaza (Carabobo), José María Espinoza Maternal and Child Hospital (Falcón), José Antonio Páez (Apure) and Raúl Leoni (Bolívar).
Blackouts persist in hospitals
Although Monitor Salud’s report corresponds to the months of May and June, the organization has documented power outages in hospitals after the dates of that report.
The most recent occurred on Sunday, August 11, at the José María Vargas Hospital in Caracas. The blackout occurred at night and affected nearby areas in the San José parish of the capital.
The power plant is working, but it is only able to provide services in some rooms and critical areas,” Monitor Salud indicated in a publication by X along with photographs of the dark hospital.
On July 29, X users reported a similar incident at the Maracay Central Hospital in Aragua state. The posts indicated that the health center suffered a power outage at night and that doctors had to complete a surgery with the flashlights on their cell phones.
CT services closed
The National Hospital Survey (ENH) revealed on June 28 that 75% of CT and MRI services in Venezuela are currently closed, a situation that has been occurring since 2015.
According to the latest report, patients are forced to go to private services to obtain diagnostic images, where the cost of a CT scan costs up to 150 dollars, or 42 current minimum wages.
In the case of ultrasound services, it was recorded that 40% of them are not working, while for X-rays the inoperability is 32%, added the document prepared by the NGO Doctors for Health.
ENH warned that, although it is true that these devices are very expensive, they are necessary to ensure that the capacity of care in the country’s hospitals is “moderately acceptable.”
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2024-08-12 18:58:14
