Debt of the Mayor’s Office to medicine suppliers amounts to Bs 25 million

“Supplier companies do not participate in the tenders because the Mayor owes them. There are almost Bs 25 million that are owed to them since January,” denounced opposition councilor Lola Terrazas, who is observing Mayor Jhonny Fernández’s trip at a time when the commune faces problems in meeting its obligations, such as paying medication suppliers.

On October 23, representatives of the Federation of Health Medical Unions and Branches (Fesirmes) exposed various shortcomings in municipal centers and hospitals, such as the lack of essential medicines. They presented a report from the Municipal Institutional Pharmacies (FIM), which reveals a “stock zero” on several high-volume remedies, such as diclofenac, nifedipine (used to treat hypertension and prevent premature births), as well as syringes and tubes. “There are more than 64 items in the FIM that are declared at zero and are essential medicines,” said the Fesirmes representative who gave the report.

Terrazas warned that the lack of medical supplies is a consequence of the Mayor’s debt with suppliers, who do not participate in the tenders due to pending payments. The councilor He pointed out that the debt reaches Bs 24,602,342 to 12 companies and laboratories, since January.

It is based on a report sent by the Bolivian Chamber of Pharmaceutical Industry (Cifabol) to the Municipal Council, in which requests that the necessary steps be taken to guarantee the provision of medicines and medical supplies under favorable conditions and within the framework of current regulations, and that payments to the national industry be prioritized. The report details that one of the suppliers is owed Bs 3,542,087 and the other Bs 144,914.

Councilor Manuel Saavedra agrees andn that debt owed to companies is one of the reasons why many drug suppliers do not participate in tenders.

Added to this is the lack of dollars, which means that the cost of the medicine does not remain static and the Municipal Government does not pay them even in six months. “It is a problem that is beginning to become a vicious circle. Companies do not show up because they are not paid and that causes a lack of remedies in health centers and hospitals. The one who pays for the mismanagement is the citizen who is sick, who needs remedies and there are none in the pharmacies,” said Saavedra.

The head of Health Planning of the Ministry of Health, Elizabeth Sanga, During the Council session, he indicated that there is a lack of stock in some items, but not in all. He pointed out that the municipality has been carrying out tenders and making public calls for the allocation of medicines, supplies and reagents, but many processes have been declared void due to lack of interest the companies.