The vice presidential candidate for the Frente Amplio, Carolina Cosserecently expressed concerns about the availability of medications in Uruguay’s public health system. In an interview with the Argentine media Futurock during his visit to Buenos Aires, Cosse affirmed that the lack of medicines is a reality in the countrypotentially affecting those seeking medical care.
During the interview, Cosse stated that “it is likely, unfortunately, that there are no remedies anywhere in Uruguay” when trying to receive care in the public health system. He stressed that he was not referring to rare or specialized medicines, but to essential products, mentioning that in Montevideo it can be difficult to find remedies, and in the interior, it involves traveling between different locations.
Cipriani’s response to Cosse’s statements
The former president of the State Health Services Administration (ASSE), Leonardo Ciprianiwho is also a candidate for the Mayor of Canelones, responded categorically to Cosse’s statements. In conversations with the newspaper El País, he described Cosse’s statements as “nonsense” and a “lying story” which has been spread since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cipriani stated that the lack of more than 90 medications during the pandemic was a global problem related to production in laboratories due to health restrictions. He added that this shortage did not create significant health risks, as suitable substitutes that fulfilled the same functions were always available.
Management evaluation at ASSE
Cipriani, during his tenure at ASSE, argued that the institution managed to overcome previous deficiencies, particularly the alleged management vacuum mentioned. Upon assuming office, he stated that they encountered the absence of a formulary and the lack of an effective Medicines Directorate, problems that were addressed under his administration.
The former head of ASSE highlighted that the improvements made included the unification of computer systems to prevent the expiration of medicines in warehouses. He compared spending on medicines, which rose from 2.9 billion pesos in 2019 to 4.5 billion in 2023with a correlative increase in the amount of medications dispensed to patients.
No funds in ASSE? Rumors of lack of budget
ASSE would have recently informed the majority of its suppliers that, due to a decision by the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF), does not have funds available to meet committed payments. The debt accumulated with suppliers exceeds 150 million dollars. This was revealed by journalist Eduardo Preve on his social networks.
According to the communicator, ASSE’s financial authorities have reported that this situation will persist until the end of the year. On this matter, neither Cipriani nor the institution have commented on the matter.
