The lack of buses, fuel, meat and health overwhelms the population of Santa Cruz

This Thursday the population faces a critical day, without public transportation, with lines to get diesel, empty meat stalls and no attention in hospitals. In the midst of these problems, a cut is announced budget of almost 50% in resources for the Unified Health System (SUS).

The bus drivers will go on strike this Thursday and Friday demanding an increase in the fare, which leaves the population without public transportation. They They intend to illegally raise from Bs 2 to Bs 3; However, the Municipal Council, which is the body that must approve any adjustment, has not made a determination in this regard.

In this Wednesday’s session, the councilors referred to the Constitution, Planning and Finance commissions the technical report on the urban transportation rate sent by Mayor Jhonny Fernández. In the document the Executive suggests a rate between Bs 2.18 and 2.37, but the councilors observe that there is not enough support, because it only includes some proformas.

The president of the Council, Silvana Mucarzel, recalled that the previous week a report on the technical tables was also received from the Executive, which indicated that there were no justification for an increase and even It has not been discussed in plenary.

“What corresponds is that first the commissions analyze the documents and issue their recommendations so that the plenary session (of the Council) can express its final position within the established times,” he indicated. The rule establishes 15 business days for the commissions to send their conclusions for debate and treatment in plenary.

The MAS councilor and representative of the transport sector, José Quiroz, He was the only one who was in favor of an adjustment, arguing that everything has increased, including maintenance and spare parts, but the fare has remained at Bs 2, since 2013.

The strike of the transporters affects the population that must travel by bus to reach their source of employment and the student population that is in the last weeks of classes. Despite the measure, The Departmental Directorate of Education (DDE) reported that, after an analysis, It was determined to maintain face-to-face classes, with tolerance in the entry time for students and teachers. “There is little time left until classes end and the educational units already have scheduled activities,” said the head of the DDE, Nelson Alcócer.

According to the transportation leader, Bismark Daza, the initial study they carried out suggested an increase to Bs 3.70, but the mayor presents figures below the amount. “This situation is unsustainable,” he says.

Meanwhile, the Mayor’s Office will make 350 vehicles available in the neighborhoods to counteract the strike of micro trucks.

According to the mayor, the buses will travel from different areas. For example, some will go from the center to Municipal District 6; others will reach the District Sub-Mayor’s Office 7; others to the Plaza de El Mechero and to the hospital in the same area.

Fernández reported that he has a resolution ready to sanction the lines that are charging Bs 3.

He also asked the sector to lift the measure, otherwise the appropriate actions will be taken.

In the midst of the strikes in the health sector that have left the population without care since last week, the Secretary of Health and Human Development of the Government, Marcelo Kramer, denounced the budget cut of close to 50% to resources for the Unified Health System (SUS) that the Government disburses for care in tertiary hospitals. “Health is in an emergency, the entire system will be affected with this cut,” said Kramer, who met with the medical leadership and health workers, as well as assembly members, to raise the claim to the national authorities.

“We have a budget that they must meet, but they are sending us less than 50%. This is how it is difficult to take care of your health. “What is coming to us are very hard times,” Kramer said, indicating that the cuts occurred in the last disbursement that was intended for cover coverage until March or April 2025.

As he explained, these resources are essential to cover 14 items, including medicines, food and basic services, which is why he urged the Government to respect the commitments made.

For her part, the departmental assemblywoman, Kathia Quiroga, rejected the cut last quarter to the six tertiary hospitals. “It was had to disburse Bs 57 million and it is being cut to Bs 29 million. There are hospitals, such as the maternity hospital, where more than 95% of their budget comes from the SUS, which is why they are already mobilized. Health is in a coma, this means that services will have to be closed and there will be no resources for medicines,” he warned.

For his part, the president of the Departmental Medical College, Fredy Anzoátegui, demanded that the Minister of Health explain the reasons for the cut and announced pressure measures. “We give until Friday for the Government send answers or we will start a massive march on Tuesday, without ruling out a general strike,” he stated.

The emergency occurs in the midst of the four-day strike carried out by health workers, which ends this Friday.

The beef supply problem is an issue that has been going on for more than a month. The trigger is increase in the kilo hook that in Santa Cruz was located at Bs 28, while in La Paz it exceeded Bs 32, which raised the price of the different cuts for the consumer.

In response, the National Confederation of Meat Workers of Bolivia (Contracabol) has been on an indefinite strike since Monday. This is the second time that they have mobilized, since more than a month ago the Government signed agreements with the three main meat processing plants in the country to lower the price of the hook kilo, a situation that, according to the leadership, brought no results.

The pressure measure caused the supply of meat to be scarce in the main markets, while the price of a kilo of chicken rose from Bs 11 to Bs 16. Pork also rose.