Due to alleged shortcomings in the conditions for the optimal functioning of the ambulances and suspicions of irregularities in the contracting, the Personería initiated an investigation against the Prehospital Care Program (APH) of the Ministry of Health of Medellin.
The Public Ministry reported this Wednesday that it received several complaints, which is why professionals from its Observatory of the Fundamental Right to Health made visits on February 7 to the facilities in which said program operates, operated by the ESE Metrosalud.
Five ambulances were randomly inspected in the Campo Valdés and Libertadores fire stationsdetecting problems in three of them.
“Ambulances that do not meet the minimum technical conditions for proper operation were found, some were without a blood pressure monitor for the adult population and pediatric patients; the aspirator is not working, the use of oxygen is disabled due to damage to the flowmeter, the air conditioning is not working, etc., a situation that forced Metrosalud vehicles to start operating in February, temporarily out of service since November 2021 for failing to comply with current regulations”, highlighted the Personería in its report.
“This can affect the safety of the patient and the human talent that works in pre-hospital care. This APH program handles all kinds of diagnoses, among which are respiratory pathologieswhich occur due to climatic factors and covid, and the fact that an ambulance has a flow meter that does not work is worrying, ”said Mayelis De la Rosa Madrid, leader of the Health Observatory.
In addition to this, a preliminary review was made of the contract between the ESE Metrosalud and the company Tranvital SAS, which includes maintenance of those vehicles.
“In the contractual review, some alleged irregularities were evidenced, such as: officials working without signed contracts and whose hiring is carried out month by month, going from a contract for the provision of services to a union contract,” according to the entity.
This situation led to the opening of a preliminary investigation against the parties involved.