Ongoing drugs shortage in Venezuela and effects on cancer care

Abstract

“Venezuela does not produce enough medicines or medical supplies to provide adequate health services, but due to the economic crisis they have not been able to import what they need either”, explains Diederik Lohman (Human Rights Watch, New York, NY, USA). The Human Rights Watch report quoted a doctor in the city of Valera in the northwest of Venezuela who estimated that 60% of patients undergoing surgery at his hospital acquired post-operative infections because of the dearth of antibiotics. A 2016 survey by Doctors for Health found that three-quarters of public hospitals lacked the medicines to maintain basic services. [...]the Venezuelan crisis affects the entire health system. “Things will not get better unless the Government acknowledges the problem, and accepts sufficient international humanitarian aid that is needed to help address the situation”, concluded Lohman.