Authorities and police discovered a troubling scene at the Teodoro Maldonado Carbo hospital in Ecuador during a recent inspection. Damaged air conditioners, patients’ relatives sleeping on the floor, and a shortage of medicines and supplies were just a few of the issues observed on Tuesday, April 9.
Assemblyman Jorge Chamba of Guayas province confirmed the lack of medication and air conditioning, as well as complaints about postponed medical appointments. It was reported that the hospital’s inactivity due to referrals costs the Ecuadorian Institute of Social Security (IESS) $350 million annually, with an additional $489 million needed to build a new facility.
Chamba revealed that he has received over 50 complaints regarding the lack of medicines and decided to personally investigate the situation. During his visit, he encountered numerous patients and their families expressing frustration over the inadequate conditions at the hospital.
The IESS recently announced plans to address issues at the Teodoro Maldonado Carbo hospital, specifically focusing on repairing the magnetic resonator and air conditioning equipment. However, a previous attempt to fix the air conditioning system was declared void due to failure to meet specified requirements.
Despite these challenges, Chamba noted that he was pleased with the care provided in the dialysis area and the progress made in acquiring new equipment. The assemblyman also met with hospital officials to discuss solutions to improve the overall quality of care at the facility.