medical

HISMA problems continue

The Hospital Integrado San Miguel Arcángel (HISMA) continues to face financial problems as it is struggling to find the money to stay open.

Yadira Singh, deputy director of Servicios Internos y Hospitalarios, said yesterday that four contractors that offered medical services for gynecology, pediatrics, surgery and anesthesia have stopped operating at the facility. The company that is contracted to provide laboratory services at the facility will stop doing so on Nov. 30.

Singh said that 11 other contractors could make a similar decision on Dec. 31, when their contracts expire.

The deputy director explained that the owners of these companies are leaving because the hospital's administration is between three and eight months behind in paying its bills.

“We owe a debt of $5 million,” she said.

Ismael Ortiz, deputy director of administration and finance HISMA, said they need a special appropriation of $6 million to cover the deficit and other operational costs.

So far, the administration is assuming the payment of some staff members of private suppliers who have left the hospital, but this is a decision which has “aggravated the economic crisis,” Ortiz said.

Singh explained that neither the Ministerio de Salud (Minsa) nor the Caja de Seguro Social has fully funded the facility, giving it just $11 million when the facility needs $18 million to cover its costs.

The hospital is located in a public building, but its services are outsourced.