Medical collapse expected in Venezuela

The government of Hugo Chávez promised medical care for all people as a goal of "socialism in the 21st century". Under Chavéz's successor Nicolás Maduro, the country is now facing medical collapse.

Medication is missing
Eight out of ten drugs are gone on the official market, including antihypertensive agents, cancer, pain, diabetes and the common cold.

Although there are many doctors in Venezuela meanwhile, but it lacks vital medicines and equipment.

Foreseeable disaster?
The country's pharmaceutical association has been warning of a foreseeable catastrophe for months. There is a lack of medical equipment, hospital beds, and babies die of treatable diseases.

On Facebook, Venezuelans are asking for antibiotics and dialysis catheters for protective masks and chemotherapy drugs for cancer.

Preventable infant death?
The case of little Oliver Sánchez caused a sensation. The boy suffered from Hodgin's lymphoma, a cancer that affects the human lymphatic system. In February he demonstrated with a sign pointing to his plight. It said, "I want to be healed. Peace. Health."

Hospitals refused to accept the boy because they had no medication and no free places. His mother said that they did not receive any medications like epamin and antibiotics in Venezuela.

The image of Oliver went through the social networks, and private donations made chemotherapy possible. But she came too late; the eight-year-old died after ten days in the clinic "Clinica Loira".

The Hodgin-Lymphon
The Hodgin-Lymphon belongs to the cancers with a good chance of recovery. A therapy that combines chemo treatment and radiation brings very good results in children.

It is unclear whether the boy would still live with an early treatment of his tumor. In any case, the opposition uses his death to polemicize against the government.

Medical doctor speaks of "Holocaust of health"
Douglas León Natera heads the Association for Doctors in Venezuela. He describes the medical situation as a "Holocaust of health" and "crimes against humanity". The Maduro government would have a "deep contempt for the neediest."

Chávez health care reform
Concern for the most needy was the focus of the "Bolivarian Revolution" program: at the turn of the millennium Venezuelan doctors barely cared for the poor in the barrios of the big cities.

The Chávez government therefore concluded a bilateral agreement with Cuba. The Misión Médica Cubana sent more than 10,000 doctors to Venezuela, who worked in folk practices, the Consultoris Poulares. The aim was to permanently replace these Cuban doctors with Venezuelan "physicians" - through a new program Medicina Integral Comunitaria, MIC.

Humanitarian aid between the fronts
The opposition is increasing pressure on the Maduro government with daily demonstrations. Maduro sees the danger of a coup and called for a state of emergency; The government may thus act by means of decrees.

The side effect: NGOs that provide medical help can refer the government to the country anytime Maduro suspects them of infiltrating the state. The education about the medical emergency on the ground can easily be defined as a "state risk".

Depending on the price of oil
Venezuela has the world's largest oil reserves after the Gulf states, so it is the richest country in Latin America, and the welfare state of the "Bolivarian Revolution" operated during the period of high oil prices. Since the oil price has fallen, the social system is collapsing - Venezuela has the highest inflation worldwide today and is about to go bankrupt.

conspiracy theories
Government and opposition are developing conspiracy theories about who is to blame for humanitarian misery: the "corrupt regime" or the "CIA secret war"? Both presumably contain a partial truth, but it should be equally valid for patients who lack medication.

Help the Caritas?
Caritas Venezuela is now demanding that relief supplies be distributed. The bishops in the border area with Colombia are also discussing with the state authorities in order to be able to provide care for the people who suffer most here.

Caritas International appeals to the government and opposition to allow international humanitarian aid. Philipp Lang, the Venezuela representative of the NGO says:
"The food stocks in the country are largely used up, the majority of the population is dramatically underserved."

Humanitarian disaster in sight??
Lang fears the worst: "The president must allow outside help as soon as possible. Government and opposition must engage in dialogue to break the escalation of violence and militarization. Otherwise, there will be a humanitarian catastrophe. "(Dr. Utz Anhalt)